JERUSALEM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Thursday with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey in Western Jerusalem, calling him a great friend of Israel.
“You have been a great friend and protector of not only America but also of American-Israeli relations,” Netanyahu said. “We have no better friends than American men and women [who] are spread around the world, including our region, that fight not only for America but also for freedom.”
Dempsey, for his part, praised the “great friendship” between the U.S. and the Israeli army.
“Our friendship with the leaders of the Israeli army is the greatest gift and I know you are proud of them but we are too,” he said.
Dempsey, who arrived in the country on Monday at the invitation of Israeli Army Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eisenkot, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, in addition to a number of other military and security leaders.
