ANKARA (Reuters)–Israel’s incoming armed forces chief will visit Turkey next week as part of growing military ties between the two countries–Anatolian news agency said on Friday.
The agency said Major-General Shaul Mofaz was expected to meet Turkish Chief of Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi on Monday.
Mofaz is currently the deputy army chief. The Israeli cabinet has approved his appointment as head of the Jewish state’s defense forces–a job he is to take over in July.
Turkey and Israel have greatly increased military ties since they signed a defense accord in 1996.
Israeli jets are allowed to train in Turkey’s ample airspace and Turkish F-14 jets have been upgraded by Israeli experts under the defense cooperation.
