US aircraft carrier anchors opposite Haifa

The USS H.W. Bush dropped anchor opposite the Israeli port city of Haifa on Saturday. It carries about 80 fighter planes on its decks and a crew of 5,700 including 3,500 air force personnel.  Powered by two nuclear reactors, the Bush is 330 meters long and 20-stories high. It anchored out to sea since it is too large to dock in Haifa port. During its four-day stay, the crew will celebrate America’s July 4 Independence Day in Israel and tour the country. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will visit the ship Monday. The US and Israeli navies have conducted several joint exercises, but Bush is the first US carrier to visit Israel in 17 years