Gantz welcomes US Defense Sec Esper

Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper in Israel on Thursday, ahead of a meeting between Esper and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It comes after the United States announced they will allow Americans born in disputed Jerusalem to list Israel as their place of birth on passports and other documents.

The new policy was announced a day after the US amended science accords signed with Israel to apply to institutions in the occupied West Bank.

The changes, enacted days before the US election, appeared to be aimed at shoring up the support of evangelical Christians and, backers of Israel.

President Donald Trump broke with decades of US policy by recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2017.

Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 war along with the West Bank, territories the Palestinians seek as part of their future state.

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