US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized to Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during their meeting Thursday at Ben Gurion Airport the importance of “implementing commitments made by Israeli and Palestinian senior officials in Aqaba, Jordan on Feb. 26.”

The US Secretary of Defense stressed that urged immediate steps to de-escalate violence and work towards a just and lasting peace.

According to a statement issued on the Department of Defense website, Austin expressed his commitment to Israeli Occupation's “right to self-defense” and to US security assistance to the occupation, including through “the historic $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding.”

Austin and Netanyahu discussed the threats posed by Iran in the region and agreed to increase cooperation to confront them, stressing the US position on preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, according to the statement.

In turn, Netanyahu said during the meeting: "I am pleased to welcome the visit of Secretary Austin. We have a common agenda (which is) preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, thwarting Iranian aggression, maintaining security and prosperity in the region, and expanding the circle of peace."

No details were revealed about Netanyahu's response to Austin's demands regarding commitment to implementing the Aqaba understandings and stopping escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories.