Readout of Secretary Carter's Meeting with Israeli Minister of Defense Ya'alon

Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook released the following statement:

Today Secretary of Defense Ash Carter met with Israeli Minister of Defense Moshe Ya'alon at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. During their meeting, the secretary reaffirmed his commitment to the U.S.-Israeli defense relationship and shared his perspective on current regional security matters including Syria and Iran. Secretary Carter and Minister Ya'alon discussed ways to further several of the initiatives discussed during Secretary Carter's visit to Israel in July, including steps to deepen regional defense cooperation and further enhance Israel's security. They ended the day with a dinner at the Pentagon.

Tomorrow Secretary Carter is scheduled to host Minister Ya'alon at U.S. Cyber Command to discuss expanding cyber cooperation between the two countries. The secretary and minister also plan to travel to Naval Air Station Patuxent River to highlight the U.S. commitment to Israel's Qualitative Military Edge. They will receive an operational demonstration of the F-35 aircraft and some of its technology. Israel will receive its first F-35 in 2016, becoming the only nation in the region with a fifth generation stealth fighter.