Head of US Navy's 5th Fleet concludes visit to Israel

• Author: ANNA AHRONHEIM
• Published date: 09 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

During the visit, Charles B. Cooper II held a series of meetings and briefings with Defense Minister Benny Gantz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kohavi, Commander of the Israel Navy V.-Adm. David Saar Salama, IDF International Cooperation Division head Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin and others.

Saar Salama called the visit by Cooper "very significant."

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"The talks that took place led to significant progress in the common issues that concern the State of Israel and the United States alike," he said. "The Fifth Fleet, led by V.-Adm. Cooper, is an important strategic partner of the Navy. The Fifth Fleet and its people are committed to the security of the State of Israel, and we are mutually committed to them."

The visit comes as a result of the transfer of the responsibility for Israel from the US Europe Command (EUCOM) to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

"Our commitment to Israel is unwavering and this visit highlighted the importance of our decades-long strategic relationship," Cooper said. "The recent alignment of Israel to US Central Command opens new opportunities to deepen our naval ties and enhance regional maritime security and stability."

According to R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari, head of Naval Operations in the Israel Navy, the move to CENTCOM "has a major influence over the activity of the Israel Navy and widens our scope of responsibility in the maritime domain."

"The transfer to the Central Command has allowed us to continue our coordination in the region, and to collaborate with maritime coalitions in the area," he said.

"Therefore, the security coordination between our forces in the fields of threat elimination, neutralization, interception and sabotage have become more valuable and intimate," Hagari said, adding, "We have opened a new door for the strengthening of regional maritime security together with our...