US defense secretary arrives in Israel amid Mideast tour

By Mahmoud Barakat

ANKARA (AA) – US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel on Thursday from Egypt on the last leg of his current tour of the Middle East region.

“We will continue to work closely with Israel to promote regional stability and counter common threats through our robust defense cooperation,” the Pentagon chief tweeted.

Austin arrived in Egypt on Wednesday on the second leg of his tour that began in Jordan on Sunday. He also visited Iraq.

His visit to Israel coincides with mass protests in the country against government plans to introduce judicial changes, seen by the opposition as an attempt to reduce the powers of the judicial authority in favor of the executive authority.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat in Ankara