UNCLASSIFIED

 

Dear All,

 

As you may be aware, in early April I will be conducting a handover to COL Brandon Wood, who will be Australia’s first permanent Defence Attache to the State of Israel.  I have asked International Cooperation Branch to set up various meetings for us, but I am also receiving emails directly from areas of IMOD and HQ IDF.  I have also received a kind offer of support from Israel’s DA to Canberra, to set up meetings with the most appropriate people.

 

My plan thus far is:

 

·         Mon 1 Apr – arrive in Tel Aviv.

·         Tue 2 Apr:

o   AM:

§  Meet MFO Force Comd.

§  Visit Camp Aviv (not before 1000hrs):

·         Meet International Cooperation Staff.

·         Receive a brief on Ex Noah’s Ark.

o   PM – visit Kirya:

§  Office calls with the heads of Army, Navy and Air Force International Engagement – all TBC.

§  1315hrs - office call with Kobi Taibel, SIBAT, tentatively confirmed.

§  1400hrs – office call with Maayan Oren, MALMAB, tentatively confirmed.

·         Wed 3 Apr:

o   AM - visit Kirya:

§  Office call with ADF J2, J3, J4, J5 and J7 staff – all TBC.

§  Office call with Mr Dan Carmel, Hd Asia Pacific for Policy, Political and Military Bureau – TBC.

o   PM – drive to Jerusalem, briefing at UNTSO HQ – Noel, pls confirm.

·         Thu 4 Apr:

o   AM – visit Old Jerusalem.

o   PM:

§  Return to Tel Aviv.

§  Meet FVEYS DAs – I will set this up separately.

§  Discussions at Embassy – as above.

 

Your advice, in terms of suggested additional meetings, your availability on days noted above etc, would be very much appreciated.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Hi Thomas, Orit,

 

Thank you for your work to date coordinating AVM Iervasi’s visit to HQ IDF / IMOD on 27 Mar.

 

Re my handover to a resident Australian DA to Israel … I will be in Israel with COL Wood over the period 1-5 April.  During that time could you please help me set up the following visit schedule:

·         Tue 2 Apr:

o   AM:

§  Visit Camp Aviv (not before 1000hrs):

·         Meet International Cooperation Staff

·         Receive a brief on Ex Noah’s Ark

o   PM – visit Kirya:

§  Office calls with the heads of Army, Navy and Air Force International Engagement

§  Office call with Kobi Taibel at the SIBAT to discuss defence materiel cooperation and the role of SIBAT and MALMAB

·         Wed 3 Apr:

o   AM - visit Kirya:

§  Office call with ADF J2, J3, J4, J5 and J7 staff

§  Office call with Mr Dan Carmel, Hd Asia Pacific for Policy, Political and Military Bureau

 

We will also be meeting with deployed Australian personnel Israel and other Defence Attaches, but I won’t require your assistance to set these up.

 

Many thanks for all your kind assistance,

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Hi Thomas,

 

Thanks for your email.  I have forwarded all of your queries to the ADC to AVM Iervasi and requested a response by tomorrow.  I respond in detail once I hear back from them.

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

Hi Sir,

 

We've received your request to adjust meetings with the IDF Generals. We've processed the request and await for the final response of the Generals' offices.

 

As far as IMOD meetings, I've forwarded your request to the relevant POC in the IMOD and it is under evaluation.

 

I'd like to emphasize, though, the importance of the synchrony between the different POCs and especially keeping the Defence Attache updated on your requests. (Please notice I've CC him).

 

Furthermore, I'd like to kindly ask for some extra information regarding AVM Iervassi and the JTF 633:

-          The AVM's CV

-          The AVM's responsibilities as the Head of JTF 633

-          The main operations JTF 633 handles today (I'm aware of Okra and Slipper from the past)

 

Receiving this info ASAP may help us to influence positively the Generals' decision making process.

 

I appreciate your prompt response,

 

LT Thomas D. Aronis

Assistant to the Head of the COP Desk

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Hi Orit,

 

AVM Iervasi will now be visiting UNTSO in Jerusalem and UNDOF in the Golan.  As a result he will be in Tel Aviv one day later, ie, on Wed 27 Mar.  Could you please adjust the visit request for his office calls at IMOD / HQ IDF to that day?

 

Do you require any additional information from me?

 

Kind regards,

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

 

Hi Orit,

 

I can now confirm that AVM Vincent Iervasi is hoping to visit IMOD / HQ IDF on Tue 26 Mar.  He will be coming from Jerusalem, where he will have visited UNTSO HQ and possibly seen Old Jeruslaem.

 

With regards the issues he would like to be briefed on and discuss with senior IDF staff:

·         Current and emerging threats to Israel – including Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Daesh, Syria etc;

·         IDF / IMOD / Israeli policy responses to the threats;

·         UN and other international operations in Israel, and;

·         Exercise Executive Noah’s Ark (the AVM may be the GO representing the ADF at the exercise).

 

I imagine the AVM would be happy to discuss ADF activities in the region, now and for the foreseeable future.

 

Ideally I think the AVM should meet with the IDF J2, J3 and J5 and potentially with Mr Zohar Palti from the Policy, Political & Military Bureau.

 

The AVM will have five in his party (AVM Iervasi; CWO – WO Matt Hurley; POLAD – Mr Chris McIlwain; ADC – LEUT Eve Parker, and CPPO – SGT Joel Robertson).  I will also be escorting them.  We will need to get two vehicles into the Kirya.

 

Ideally, we would intend to arrive at the Kirya at 0900hrs and depart at about 1200hrs, unless there is a desire to do something for lunch.

 

Please note that my last day in the office prior to this visit with be this Thu (7 Mar).  Thereafter I will be visiting Australia with the Commander of the Turkish Air Force. Before returning for commemoration activities associated with the Gallipoli battles.

 

Many thanks for your assistance,

 

 

 

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED