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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 594

Mark Esper

In this photo provided by the White House, US President Donald Trump is joined by from left, national security adviser Robert O'Brien, Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary mark Esper, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley and Brig. Gen. Marcus Evans, Deputy Director for Special Operations on the Joint Staff, October 26, 2019, in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington, as they monitor developments in the US Special Operations forces raid that took out Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. (Shealah Craighead/The White House via AP)
May 8, 2022, 8:58 am
Trump sought pre-election strike on senior Iranian commander, says ex-Pentagon chief
In new book, Mark Esper claims then-national security adviser O’Brien wanted to ‘create news’ ahead of 2020 vote to boost former US president’s chance of winning
By ToI Staff
Demonstrators gather to protest the death of George Floyd, near the White House in Washington, June 1, 2020. (AP/Evan Vucci)
May 3, 2022, 4:27 am
Trump pushed for opening fire on White House protesters, ex-Pentagon chief reveals
President asked for troops to shoot at legs of people rallying against killing of George Floyd in 2020, according to excerpts from tell-all being published by Mark Esper
By AFP
IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi (R) holds a virtual meeting with his American counterpart Gen. Mark Milley on November 15, 2020. (IDF)
November 14, 2020, 1:33 am
Israeli, US military chiefs speak after Trump fires top Pentagon officials
IDF head Aviv Kohavi, Mark Milley discuss Middle East security as president puts loyalists in top defense posts; US general has stressed fealty to Constitution amid DC turmoil
By ToI Staff and AP
Ezra Cohen-Watnick (US Department of Defense)
November 11, 2020, 10:35 pm
Official who backed fake Obama wiretapping theory promoted to key Pentagon post
Ezra Cohen-Watnick made headlines in 2017 for leaking intelligence to support Trump’s spurious claim
By Gabe Friedman
Then-US secretary of defense Mark Esper, with US President Donald Trump, speaks on vaccine development on May 15, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC. (MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
November 11, 2020, 8:34 am
Controversial Trump loyalists elevated at Pentagon after defense chief’s firing
New appointments include ex-general who reportedly tweeted that Islam is the ‘most oppressive violent religion I know of’ and called Obama a ‘terrorist leader’
By Lolita C. Baldor
Then-US secretary of defense Mark Esper, with US President Donald Trump, speaks on vaccine development on May 15, 2020, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC. (MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
November 9, 2020, 8:51 pm
Trump fires Pentagon chief Mark Esper, replaces him with counterterrorism chief
Defense secretary was critical of US president’s plan over summer to use military to quash civil unrest, recently held talks with Israel over F-35 jet sales to UAE
By Jacob Magid and ToI Staff
Illustrative: Two US Air Force F-22 Raptors fly over Syria, February 2, 2018. (Air National Guard/ Staff Sgt. Colton Elliott via Department of Defense)
October 31, 2020, 7:47 am
Trump approves selling F-22 Raptor to Israel — Saudi report
Newspaper says US is okaying sale of the advanced stealth aircraft to maintain the Jewish state’s military superiority, after announcing plans to sell F-35s to UAE
By ToI Staff and Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative: Fighter jets from the IAF's second F-35 squadron, the Lions of the South, fly over southern Israel. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 29, 2020, 8:18 pm
White House informs Congress of plans to sell as many as 50 F-35s to UAE
Informal notice of $10.4 billion sale gives lawmakers opportunity to raise objections before it moves forward, comes days after Netanyahu gave blessing to transfer
By Jacob Magid
Defense Minister Benny Gantz, right, and senior Israeli defense officials meet with US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, left and his staff at military headquarters in Tel Aviv on October 29, 2020. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
October 29, 2020, 6:01 pm
Gantz, Esper meet for 3rd time in a month, this time in Tel Aviv, on arms sales
US defense secretary speaks with top brass on maintaining Israel’s military supremacy despite proposed sale of F-35 jets to UAE
By Judah Ari Gross
Illustrative: US Air Force F-35A Lightning II’s at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, on November 16, 2019. (Joshua Williams/US Department of Defense)
October 25, 2020, 2:51 pm
Justice minister compares Netanyahu secrecy on F-35s to submarine graft case
Several critics see echoes of scandal in which government allegedly secretly okayed sale of advanced arms to Egypt in newest affair, as PM is accused of hiding talks with US, UAE
By ToI Staff and Judah Ari Gross
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Defense Minister Benny Gantz hold a press conference in Tel Aviv on July 27, 2020. (Tal Shahar/Pool/Flash90)
October 25, 2020, 12:21 am
Netanyahu, Gantz trade accusations about alleged secret F-35 talks
After Israel agrees to not oppose US supply of the stealth fighter jet to UAE, defense minister accuses PM of hiding weapons deals from defense officials; Netanyahu denies it
By Judah Ari Gross
Israeli and American F-35 fighter jets take part in a joint exercise over southern Israel on March 29, 2020. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 23, 2020, 9:44 pm
Gantz accuses Netanyahu of hiding UAE F-35 talks from Israeli defense officials
Accusations come just after Israel says it will not object to US sale of ‘certain weapon systems’ to the Gulf nation in exchange for receiving substantial military upgrades
By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inspecting an Adir F-35 stealth fighter at the Nevatim Air Force Base on July 9, 2019. (Ariel Hermoni/Defense Ministry)
October 23, 2020, 8:24 pm
In sharp about-face, Netanyahu, Gantz approve US sale of F-35s to UAE
Netanyahu says he’s rescinded his objections to sale of ‘certain weapons systems,’ after US vows to upgrade Israel’s arsenal to maintain its regional military edge
By Jacob Magid
Defense Minister Benny Gantz, right, and US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper hold a joint statement in the Pentagon on October 22, 2020. (Shmulik Almani/Defense Ministry)
October 22, 2020, 9:43 pm
Gantz touts ‘major leap’ for Israeli security as US re-ups military edge promise
US defense secretary signs agreement to honor existing commitment to Jewish state’s military superiority amid concerns over sale of F-35 fighter jets to UAE
By Judah Ari Gross
US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, right, with Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the Pentagon, Washington, September 22, 2020. (Shmulik Almani/Defense Ministry)
October 21, 2020, 8:05 pm
Gantz heads to US for ‘security meeting’ with Pentagon chief
Discussions likely to focus on proposed sale of F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as defense minister makes second trip to the US in a month
By Judah Ari Gross
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