Hegseth meets Netanyahu in unannounced visit to Israel, Axios reports

WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met ​with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced ‌visit to Israel on Monday, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge.

Reuters could not immediately confirm the meeting, but Hegseth said in a social ​media post that he had visited US service members in ​the Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the ⁠Middle East, northeast Africa and parts of Asia.

The Pentagon declined ​comment, while Israel’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to ​a request for comment.

News of Hegseth’s trip comes a day after US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu in next week’s parliamentary election in Israel - its first ​vote since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that shook ​the country and plunged the Middle East into turmoil, as Israel went to ‌war ⁠in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition is projected to lose its governing majority, although the opposition may also struggle to form a government, opinion polls show.

US Vice President JD Vance, ​however, declined to ​endorse Netanyahu in ⁠an interview earlier on Monday, saying he was not getting involved in Israeli elections.

“I endorse American ​candidates, and that’s where I’m focused on is ​the midterms,” ⁠Vance, who traveled to Budapest and endorsed Viktor Orban in Hungarian election earlier this year, said in an interview with digital media outlet ⁠2WAY.

“I’m ​not anti-endorsing him, but I’m not pro-endorsing ​him, I’m not getting involved in Israeli elections.” Vance said.