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Senior Israeli ministers visit London for talks

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Israel’s Defence Minister and Public Security Minister are currently visiting London, where they are meeting ministerial counterparts to discuss relevant issues.

Avigdor Lieberman met US Defence Secretary Ash Carter on the sidelines of the the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial at Lancaster House, yesterday.

A Pentagon spokesman, Peter Cook, said that they discussed regional security challenges in the Middle East,including the threats posed by Iran and ISIS, plus ways to expand and accelerate cyber coordination and other areas of mutual defence cooperation.

Cook said that Carter “reaffirmed the US commitment to Israel’s qualitative military edge and to strong US-Israel defence relations”.

Israel and the United States are thought to be in the process of finalising a new ten-year military aid package, with some outstanding issues remaining.

Lieberman is also  set to meet UK Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood.

Meanwhile, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, in a wide ranging visit, held talks with a number of his counterparts. Yesterday, he met Communities and Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid, Minister for Universities and Science Joe Johnson and Home Office Minister Ben Wallace. Erdan will also hold talks with Minister for Internet Safety and Security Baroness Joanna Shields, and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. In addition he will visit the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit.

Erdan noted on social media that in particular he and Johnson had discussed cooperation to prevent violence against Jewish students on campus.

On the eve of his visit, Erdan said: “I’m going [to Britain] to battle the boycott and delegitimisation in every arena, and to discuss with members of the British government – which is also committed to fighting boycotts – ways to strengthen our cooperation.”