US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on Sunday, 11 Iyar 5773 visited Yad Vashem. He was accompanied by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon as they visited the Holocaust History Museum, participated in a Memorial Ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, visited the Children’s Memorial and signed the Yad Vashem Guest Book.

Hagel is in Israel for his first visit since being appointed after President Barak Obama was elected to a second term in office.

During his visit, Secretary Hagel will offer Israel America’s V-22 Osprey aircraft, billed as an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. He will also be offering advanced mid-air fueling planes (KC-135) that will permit IAF fighter planes to remain in the air longer and other weapons systems.

The visit will permit Hagel and Ya’alon to establish a working relationship as they are both new in their senior posts.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)