US’s European military chief visits Israel in first trip under Trump
EUCOM’s Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti meets IDF chief in Tel Aviv, slated to speak with heads of Military Intelligence, Gaza Division
Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.
The head of the US European Command visited Israel on Monday to meet with top officials from the Israel Defense Forces about regional and local issues, including the situation in the Gaza Strip, the army said.
General Curtis M. Scaparrotti met with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in the army’s Tel Aviv headquarters, the army said.
This was the first official visit to Israel by a senior member of the US Armed Forces since US President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. He is expected to remain in Israel for a few days, the IDF said.
Scaparrotti was scheduled to meet Eisenkot’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan; the head of Military Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Herzl Halevi; the head IDF Operations, Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon; and the head of the IDF’s Gaza Division, Brig. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, the army said.
He was also slated to “visit several locations and military bases in Israel” during his stay in the country, according to the IDF.
“The visit reinforces the strong and enduring US-Israel defense relationship and continues the cooperation between the two militaries,” the Israeli army said.
Scaparrotti, who also serves as supreme allied commander in Europe, previously visited Israel in August 2016, shortly after he came into his position.
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