Jerusalem, Dec 04: Israeli Chief of Staff of Armed Forces Lt Gen Moshe Ya'alon is likely to go ahead with his twice-deferred visit to India early next month, sources here indicated. The visit might coincide with another landmark development in the growing defence cooperation between the two countries. Recently, addressing a high level delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Reserves General Joseph Ben-Chanan, Director of Assistance and Defence Exports in the Israeli Ministry of Defence, had hinted that the much publicised Phalcon deal might be sealed by early January.
The sources said the chief of staff had been keen on visiting India for quite sometime and two of his earlier planned trips had to be cancelled due to ''developments that demanded immediate attention''.
During the visit he is likely to discuss ways to further boost Indo-Israel defence ties, including working out a schedule for joint exercises.
A spokeswoman of the Israel defence forces when asked about the upcoming visit said, ''we do not disclose the schedule of the Chief of Staff for security reasons.''
Bureau Report