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U.S. Secretary of Defense Hagel Vows Solidarity with Israel at Start of Mideast Trip
(Los Angeles Times) Shashank Bengali - Making his first visit to the region as Pentagon chief, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel arrived in Israel on Sunday, seeking to demonstrate solidarity between the U.S. and Israel. "Israel and the United States see the threat of Iran exactly the same - as do many other countries, not just in the Middle East - so I don't think there's any daylight there," Hagel said en route to Israel. As defense secretary, Hagel has echoed the Obama administration's line that "all options are on the table" with regard to Iran, and he has supported Israel's right to defend itself. "I'm going to Israel first because it is a nation that has had a very special relationship with the United States. And it is a nation today in a very dangerous, combustible region of the world, that in many ways finds itself isolated," Hagel said. "And it's very important for the people of Israel to know that the United States is committed to their security and that special relationship."