Benny Gantz
צילום: גיל יוחנן
IDF chief Gantz to visit London
Next week's trip will be the first by an Israeli army chief since 1998
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz is scheduled to visit Britain next week in what will be the first London trip by an Israeli army chief since 1998, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday.
Gantz will be the personal guest of the British Chief of General Staff.
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The details of the visit remain confidential in order to avoid provocations by anti-Israel elements.
Recent years have seen a rapprochement between Israel and Britain in relation to the campaign against Iran's nuclear program. About a year and a half ago, Britain's Chief of General Staff, Sir Peter Wall, held a secret visit in Israel.
Gantz's trip was made possible after Britain amended a law which threatened Israeli officials with arrest while visiting London, in late 2011.
A source at the British Foreign Office said that the United Kingdom welcomes Israeli officials and will see to it that all visits are properly secured.
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