Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Military, General Walter J. Natynczyk arrived at Israel today for a three day work visit as the guest of Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, IDF Chief of the General Staff.

This is General Natynczyk's first visit in Israel since his appointment in July 2008. The visit was scheduled following an invitation by Lt. Gen. General Ashkenazi and will be used for mutual updating and a strategic intelligence briefing on the situation in the Middle East, for presenting lessons learnt during the Second Lebanon War and Operation Cast Lead and also for strengthening the relations between the two militaries.

The Canadian Chief of Staff is expected to hold a work meeting with the IDF Chief of the General Staff and with other General Staff senior members, including the Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Benny Ganz, Head of the Strategic and Planning Branch, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, the outgoing Central Command CO (who will soon be appointed as the IDF Military Attaché in Washington) Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni, and others.

Gen. Natynczyk is scheduled to visit the Tel-Nof Air Force Base and tour the Northern Command with a briefing by the Commander of the Galilee Division, Brig. Gen. Yoel Streak. He is also scheduled to tour the Southern Command and the Erez DCL (District Coordinator and Liaison) where amongst other events he will be briefed by the Southern Command Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Harel Knafo.

Finally, Gen. Natynczyk will pay a visit to the Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem.
Gen. Natynczyk's wife, Leslie, will accompany him on his visit. Mrs. Natynczyk is planning to visit the Bet HaLohem (House of the Combat Soldier), where she will be explained of the work with families who lost their sons and with injured soldiers and their families. Mrs. Natynczyk is also expected to tour the cities of Jerusalem, Zikhron Ya'akov and Caesaria.