U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro visited the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Palmahim Air Force base Wednesday, September 14, and said his presence there sent a message that the United States stands beside Israel and will help defend it against all security threats, The Jerusalem Post reported. Asked about the significance of his visit to an IDF base at this time, Shapiro noted rising security threats and the volatility of the region. “It is precisely in these times that we must show the Israeli people that the U.S. will stand to protect Israel, its security, in the face of all threats.” Shapiro added that the United States had an “everlasting” obligation to Israel’s security. The ambassador met with the Sword Shield unit, which operates the Arrow missile defense program and maintains U.S.-Israel cooperation on missile defense. “The United States and Israel are working intensively on the development of the Arrow 3 defense system that we promise to complete as soon as possible,” said Shapiro. “We know that the threats in the Middle East are becoming more severe, more sophisticated and more dangerous.”