U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Adm. Michelle Howard, hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on board the Nimitz class USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77), anchored off the coast of Haifa, Israel, Monday, July 3, 2017. Prime Minister Netanyahu was accompanied by Minister of Transportation Israel Katz, mayor of Haifa Yona Yahav, and IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi. Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli delegation were given a tour of the ship by Rear Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2, and Will Pennington, commanding officer of the USS George H. W. Bush.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) arrived in Haifa, Israel, for a scheduled port visit), to enhance U.S.-Israel relations as the two nations reaffirm their continued commitment to the collective security of the European and Middle East Regions. The arrival marked the first time an U.S. aircraft carrier docked at an Israeli port since the USS Eisenhower in April 2000.
