DND chief visits Israeli counterpart in Tel Aviv

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 5): DND chief visits Israeli counterpart in Tel Aviv

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin paid a visit to his Israeli counterpart, Minister Moshe Ya’alon, in Tel Aviv, Israel resulting in the discussion of several defense and security issues last week.

Gazmin's visit was in response to the Israeli official's request.

During their subsequent meeting, the two officials discussed establishment of a working group to examine the security and defense situation in both countries and explore cooperative efforts to address common concerns.

The working group will also come up with available solutions with cost considerations in regard to further enhancing the defense capability build-up of the Philippines.

Gazmin and Ya’alon also discussed the prospects of information exchange, particularly on terrorism, as well as technology sharing between the two countries.

Israel also offered assistance in the development of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) capabilities as well as the availability of excess defense articles (EDAs) for Philippine acquisition.

The delegation also visited the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Home Front Command Headquarters, where Gazmin expressed the Philippines’ appreciation for the IDF’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) contributions in the aftermath of Typhoon "Yolanda" in the Philippines in November 2013.

This took place before the DND chief's scheduled visit to the Golan Heights where the 7th Philippine Contingent (7PCGH) to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force is currently deployed.

As a troop contributing country to the UN, the Philippines has been regularly deploying peacekeepers to UNDOF since 2009.

The PCGH is currently the biggest Philippine military contingent deployed to a UN peacekeeping mission.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=612932