Israeli defense minister to visit U.S. Thursday

JERUSALEM, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon will leave for Washington Thursday for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Ya'alon's bureau said in a statement on Wednesday evening.

Ya'alon's trip comes on the heels of Hagel's first visit to Israel in April.

"The two are expected to discuss security, diplomatic and regional issues," the statement said.

The Israeli defense chief's agenda also includes meetings with U.S. lawmakers, leaders of Washington's Jewish community and senior officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

From Washington, Ya'alon will fly to Paris, where he will meet with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and heads of France's defense industries. He will also inaugurate Israel's pavilion at the 50th Le Bourget Air Show set to begin in Paris next Monday.

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