CIA chief in surprise Israel visit

CIA chief in surprise Israel visit

JERUSALEM - The Associated Press
The head of the American CIA spy agency has made an unannounced visit to Israel, an Israeli defense official said.

The official said on May 17 CIA chief John Brennan met Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, avoiding giving further details. However, according to the Israeli press, Brennan arrived in Israel as Turkish authorities were conducting an official meeting with U.S. officials. Brennan then headed to the West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas before convening with Israeli officials during which he emphasized several topics from Syria to Palestine. Brennan’s trip comes amid Israeli concerns about weapons transfers from Syria to the Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah.

Israel has carried out airstrikes aimed at halting arms shipments to Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Russia this week to persuade Moscow not to sell an advanced air defense system to Syria that could complicate any possible aerial campaign.