Panetta-Perez Meeting Stresses “Stronger than Ever” Relations

Local Editor

US War Secretary Leon Panetta has met with visiting "Israeli" President Shimon Peres to discuss security issues of mutual concern and strong defense ties between the two close allies, the US and "Israel", reported the Jerusalem Post.
Both sides assured that military cooperation between the US and "Israel" was "stronger than ever, stable and ongoing."
"They consulted on the many areas of cooperation and the common challenges faced by the United States and "Israel" in the Middle East, to include the ongoing violence in Syria, Iran's nuclear ambitions, the Middle East Peace Process, and US commitment to preserving "Israel's" Qualitative Military Edge," Pentagon spokesman George Little said in a statement.
Panetta, according to the source, congratulated Peres on being awarded the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, which will be awarded by US President Barack Obama at the White House on Wednesday, the statement added.

On the latest spate of violence in neighboring Syria that has fueled worries of a civil war, "Israel" has broken its silence recently by joining the US-led West in calling for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. 

Speaking to "Israel" Radio on Sunday, Peres also urged world powers to intervene in the Syrian situation, noting that the International community was not doing enough to end the bloodletting.