US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on 25 July held a phone conversation with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant, during which he reaffirmed Washington’s “steadfast and unwavering” support for Israeli security despite massive anti-government protests that have rocked the country for months.
“Secretary Austin made clear that US commitment to Israel’s security is steadfast and unwavering, and affirmed that the Department of Defense is focused on initiatives that deepen military cooperation,” the Pentagon’s readout of the call states, adding that Austin and Gallant “discussed the range of Iran-backed threats to regional security and stability and agreed to continue working together to counter these threats.”
Hours earlier, US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters, “There is not going to be any cut or stoppage of military aid, and that is because our commitment to Israel and our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. Our decades-long partnership with Israel is ironclad.”
Washington’s words of reassurance came one day after the Israeli Knesset passed the first law of a contentious judicial overhaul reform package to neutralize Israel’s high court of justice and allow the far-right coalition government to make decisions without judiciary oversight.
Source:The Cradle
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