Defense Minister Yoav Galant and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan concluded their meeting, which took place today (Thursday) at the defense minister's office in Kirya. At the center of the meeting, the two discussed plans to continue fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip, efforts to remove the threat on the Lebanese border, and the need to return residents of the north to their homes as soon as possible.
Defense Minister Galant alongside National Security Adviser Sullivan, today, photo: Ariel Hermoni
At the beginning of his remarks, the defense minister mentioned the purpose of the war and emphasized that there is no room for a time limit for Israeli action in Gaza: "In order to dismantle an organization that was built for years only for terrorist purposes, and to liberate Gaza from Hamas, it takes more than a few months. It will be a protracted war that will not take several months - we are determined to defeat Hamas and bring back the hostages."
Gallant briefed the National Security Adviser on the progress of the fighting. He told Sullivan's adviser that American support for the State of Israel was important to achieve this goal. In addition, the sides discussed the various threats in the Middle East and Iranian aggression that is destabilizing the region by employing its proxies in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria.
Brief the progress of the fighting before the National Security Adviser, photo: Ariel Hermoni
"The United States and Israel share the same values and interests, and in this war we also share the same goals. It's not easy to bring democracies into war, and Israel is a thriving and living democracy, but when we go to war, we win," Galant said at the start of the meeting. "We are fighting for our future and especially for the right values, that's why we will win. It's important for Israel, it's important for the United States, and it's important for the future of the entire region."
Galant also emphasized to Advisor Sullivan that the State of Israel will support the international task force to deal with the maritime threat and will defend itself by itself against any threat. He thanked the American administration and President Biden for all the actions being taken to support Israel, including their assistance in the war and political effort and in the negotiations for the return of the hostages.
Israel will support the international task force to deal with the maritime threat. Houthi rebel militiaman in the background of a ship in the Red Sea, Photo: AP
Also participating in the meeting were Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, IDF Chief of Operations Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Mike Herzog, Head of the Defense Ministry's Political and Security Division Dror Shalom, Military Secretary to the Minister of Defense Brig. Gen. Guy Marquesano, and Chief of Staff to Defense Minister Shahar Katz.
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