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Kahlon to Mnuchin: Thanks for support of Israel’s defense of northern border

The Israel Defense Forces launched “Operation Northern Shield” to discover and eliminate attack tunnels constructed by Hezbollah from Lebanon to the Jewish state.

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (left) with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2018. Credit: Moshe Kahlon/Twitter.
Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (left) with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 4, 2018. Credit: Moshe Kahlon/Twitter.

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday, thanking him for “for supporting Israel’s right to defend our northern border from terror” and for imposing sanctions on anti-Israel actors such as Iran.

The Israel Defense Forces launched “Operation Northern Shield” on Tuesday to discover and eliminate attack tunnels constructed by Hezbollah from Lebanon to the Jewish state.

“Excellent meeting with @stevenmnuchin1 on economic and strategic issues. I thanked Secretary Mnuchin for supporting Israel’s right to defend our northern border from terror,” tweeted Kahlon. “We discussed further enhancement of sanctions in order to protect Israeli and U.S security interests.”

Recently, the Treasury Department reimposed sanctions lifted under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in addition to slapping on new financial penalties related to Iran and its leading support for terrorism.

Tonight I met with Israeli Finance Minister @KahlonMoshe and spoke at the US-Israel Economic Partnership event. I highlighted our economic relationship and our shared fight against terrorist financing. pic.twitter.com/XqRCdmcEa6 — Steven Mnuchin (@stevenmnuchin1) December 5, 2018

Kahlon is also in Washington as Israel’s representative at the Wednesday funeral for former President George H.W. Bush, who died late on Friday at the age of 94, at the Washington National Cathedral.

“Former President George H.W. Bush was a true friend of Israel,” posted Kahlon on Twitter. “His huge contribution to the strong relationship between our countries will forever be remembered. Our heart goes out to the American people, who have lost a great leader.”

Former President George H.W. Bush was a true friend of Israel His huge contribution to the strong relationship between our countries will forever be remembered. Our heart goes out to the American people, who have lost a great leader. pic.twitter.com/Ut1xarcKa7 — משה כחלון - Moshe Kahlon (@KahlonMoshe) December 5, 2018

The United States is “shutting down the financial infrastructure that allows the regime to continue its threats to U.S. national security and global shipping,” the U.S. treasury secretary said.
“The American people are crying out for an end to U.S. tax dollars subsidizing Israel’s military,” Rep. Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told colleagues.
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesman told JNS that the administration “acted well within its statutory and constitutional authority” in Khalil’s case, “as it does with any alien who advocates for violence, glorifies and supports terrorists, harasses Jews and damages property.”
“The Strait of Hormuz is open to all ship traffic except for Iran,” the U.S. president wrote.
The amendment “would restrict our country’s ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations in the region who are sworn enemies of both the United States and Israel,” the House minority leader said.
“We are prepared for any scenario,” the prime minister assured.