Hagel calls to congratulate Ya’alon on appointment

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called his newly appointed Israeli counterpart, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, on Tuesday.

Both men congratulated each other on their new jobs. Hagel was confirmed as US secretary of defense in late February after a long battle in the Senate over his nomination.

The Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that Hagel plans to visit Israel in April, and the ministry quoted him as saying to Ya’alon in their phone conversation that “I look forward to strengthening cooperation between the two defense establishments.”

Ya’alon expressed approval of Hagel’s planned visit and said that he intended to travel to the US in the near future as well.

“We have many shared challenges in light of the instability in the Middle East,” Ya’alon told his counterpart. “I recognize and value the security relationship between the United States and Israel… I certainly look forward to strengthening this relationship considering the challenges we face, and to strengthening our personal relationship.”