Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu onTuesday visited the Israel Air Force base hosting Juniper Cobra-10, the joint US-Israel militarydrill.
"This is a very productive cooperation," he said. "I think the US and Israel are breaking new ground. The ultimate goal is to defend the State of Israel and ensure regional peace."
Netanyahu, along with IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi andDefense Minister Ehud Barak ,was briefed on the drill and the various systems used in it by Brigadier-General Doron Gavish, commander of the IAF Air Defense Division, and his American counterpart.
"This looks very promising," said Barak. "A lot of preparation went into this drill, both by us and by the US forces. This drill tackled real challenges we will have to face in the future and it's good to be prepared."
Juniper Cobra, added Ashkenazi, "Deals with the growing missile threat against Israel… It will allow us to increase our defensive capabilities."
Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for US President Barack Obama's efforts in terms of the missile threat on Israel: "President Obama deserves all the appreciation for the increasing cooperation, aimed at dealing with a problem which threatens the State of Israel and the entire world – the missile threat on civilian populations.
"My impression is that we have started on the right foot and hope for continued cooperation and success," the prime minister said.