Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Tuesday headed to Washington for talks with senior US officials about the Iranian nuclear programme.
The Israeli minister’s two-day US visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s and President Shimon Peres’ scheduled visits next week, Xinhua reported.
“There are some security issues that apply to the defense minister. These sensitive issues (that will be discussed in Netanyahu’s visit) require early coordination and many talks,” said a senior political source explaining the objective of Barak’s visit.
Barak will meet senior US officials, including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon and other security and intelligence figures.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will leave for north America Thursday, first to Canada where he will meet Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and then to Washington where he is to meet with US President Barack Obama as well as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and senior congressmen.
President Peres, who will also leave for Washington this week, will meet Obama Sunday.