"The U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan draw on lessons learned and equipment developed by the Israelis in their conflicts -- and visa versa. Unmanned drones and the armoring of vehicles to protect against roadside bombs derive from Israeli technology, Israeli officials say.

"We exchange information and discuss developments in the region, and under this administration our communication has taken on a more frequent and intimate nature," Shapiro said. "It is a mutually beneficial exchange."

Solidifying those links, more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers last year participated in a joint missile-defense exercise in Israel last year known as "Juniper Cobra," the first such exercise involving boots on the ground between the two nations.