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Milley to visit Israel as Washington worries about reneging IDF reservists

Israeli officials have described the visit as part of the general’s farewell tour before he retires later this year.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2021. Credit: Department of Defense Photo by Chad J. McNeeley.
Army Gen. Mark Milley, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan, Sept. 27, 2021. Credit: Department of Defense Photo by Chad J. McNeeley.

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, the top U.S. military official, is scheduled to visit Israel next week. The announcement comes amid Biden administration security concerns, as some Israel Defense Forces reservists have said they won’t serve in protest of judiciary reform.

“Milley’s visit will enable the Biden administration to assess first-hand how deep the crisis inside the IDF goes, and whether it could have any implications for U.S. forces in the Middle East,” Axios reported.

The visit will reportedly take place next week. Milley will meet with some senior Israeli officials, but it isn’t known if that will include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Axios. Israeli officials have described the visit as part of Milley’s farewell tour, prior to his retirement this fall.

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