Article Posted on : - Nov 17, 2011

A file photo of Canadian Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay (right), and Ehud Barak, Israeli Minister of Defence.

OTTAWA (BNS): Canada's Minister of National Defence, Peter MacKay conducted a bilateral meeting with the Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak in Ottawa on Wednesday, to discuss a variety of issues related to Canada-Israel defence cooperation.

"Canada and Israel have enjoyed close bilateral defence relations for some time and our special relationship with Israel has grown stronger in recent years," Minister MacKay said in the MoD news release.

Minister MacKay and Minister Barak discussed a number of key issues, including the significance of benefits from the exchange of best practices between their respective Defence ministries, as well as changing regional dynamics in the Middle East, including Iran.

In January 2011, Minister MacKay had signed a Principal Memorandum of Understanding on defence relations with his Israeli counterpart during his five-day visit to Israel.

Canada and Israel are working on two Memoranda of Understanding in order to further entrench the relationship with regards to material and military research and development.