Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) travelled to France on Sunday to meet with his American counterpart, Admiral Mike Mullen and French counterpoint, General Jean-Louis Georgelin for what the IDF spokesperson's office described as routine talks on the Middle East and other matters of mutual interest.

Lieutenant-General Ashkenazi also met with Daniel Shek, Israel's ambassador to France, Colonel Ilan Attias, Israel's military attache in Paris, and General (reserves) Yossi Ben-Chanan, the head of an Israeli military delegation to western Europe.