BICOM

Israel’s Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon yesterday praised outgoing US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel, following Hagel’s resignation yesterday.

Hagel is said to have been effectively forced to hand in his notice due to disagreement with US President Obama over policy on tackling ISIS. A former Republican Senator and Vietnam War veteran, Hagel was appointed as US Defence Secretary nearly two years ago following a complex confirmation process during which some accused him of historic hostility towards Israel.

However, in office Hagel developed a close relationship with his Israeli counterpart Moshe Ya’alon, whose relations with the White House have often appeared rocky. Yesterday, Ya’alon issued a statement praising Hagel for his “large and significant” contribution towards Israel’s security and the relations between the two countries. Ya’alon commented, “Over the last two years the relationship between Chuck Hagel and myself has been open, genuine and very friendly, and characterizes the special relationship between the Israeli and American security establishments.”

Calling Hagel a “true friend of Israel,” Ya’alon further praised the “uncompromising support, the exchange of intelligence and knowledge, and in the extensive and quality military aid the US gives Israel.” During his time in office, Hagel presided over continued US arms sales to Israel and close defence industry ties including the continuation of the Iron Dome project, which has proved hugely successful intercepting rockets from Gaza aimed at Israeli civilian population centres.

In this morning’s Yediot Ahronot, military affairs correspondent Alex Fishman discusses Hagel’s resignation and predicts that whoever succeeds him will display similarly solid support for Israel. Fishman says, “The style the new top tiers of Pentagon officials employ might change, but not the substance,” which he suggests is determined by President Obama. Fishman explains, “It was Obama who dictated to three secretaries of defence—Gates, Panetta and Hagel—the policy that the United States guarantees Israel’s security. Those will also be the instructions for whoever replaces Hagel.”