Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman in London this week
Lieberman will meet his British and American counterparts in addition to the UK Middle East minister
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman is in London this week to meet British counterpart Michael Fallon and Middle East Minister Tobias Ellwood.
Lieberman, who was installed in Israel’s Defence Ministry after striking a deal to join Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in May, is also meeting U.S. Secretary of Defence Ash Carter while in the capital.
Israeli and American negotiators are still locked in discussion over the extent to which the U.S. will provide military aid to Jerusalem over the next ten years. Currently, Washington gives Israel about $3.1 billion annually.
Lieberman will also discuss defence cooperation with Britain, days after new figures revealed that the UK was now the world’s second largest arms exporter, with two thirds of weapons having been sold to countries in the Middle East since 2010.
This includes £22 million of known military or dual-use equipment sold to Israel in the first three months of this year, but the actual figure is likely to be much higher, as it excludes two large deals of unknown value.
Lieberman’s visit coincides with that of Israel’s Public Security and Strategic Affairs Minister Gilad Erdan, who is meeting British officials to warn of the dangers of Palestinian supporters boycotting Israel.
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