Liberman to meet US, UK counterparts for defense talks

Defense minister Avigdor Lieberman will leave for London on Tuesday for high-level security talks with his American and British counterparts.

Liberman is slated Wednesday to first meet with American defense secretary Ashton Carter, and later with the UK’s Michael Fallon.

A statement only said he would discuss “a series of matters” with Carter and “security, strategic and bilateral matters” with Fallon.

Liberman met with Carter in June, during his first visit to the US since being sworn in as defense minister on May 30.

Observers said at the time that the meeting, held in a “good and friendly atmosphere,” focused on negotiations between the two countries over renewing a 10-year military aid package.

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman unveils the F-35 stealth fighter jet, during a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 22, 2016. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)

The defense minister said the two spoke about deepening US-Israeli cooperation in the intelligence and technology fields.

The get-together came after comments by US State Department spokesman Mark Toner in the immediate aftermath of Liberman’s appointment, in which he said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new ruling coalition raised “legitimate questions” over Israel’s commitment to a two-state solution in its conflict with the Palestinians.

During his US visit, Liberman also attended a ceremony to “receive” the first of several fifth generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets purchased by Israel.

In August, Liberman’s ministry grudgingly apologized for appearing to compare the US-backed Iran nuclear deal with the 1938 Munich agreement.