U.S. military chief visits Israel JERUSALEM, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his Israeli counterparts Friday during a short stop in Jerusalem. The meetings were not open to the news media, The New York Times reported. The newspaper said the visit signaled U.S. support for Israel at a time when the two countries differ on the response to the perceived nuclear threat from Iran. The Israeli Defense Ministry, in a statement, said Dempsey told officials, "We have many interests in common in the region in this very dynamic time, and the more we can continue to engage each other, the better off we'll all be." "There is never a dull moment, that I can promise you," Defense Minister Ehud Barak reportedly answered. The Obama administration emphasizes using sanctions and negotiations with Iran, while Israel has suggested military force might be necessary.