Israel's Defense Attaché to Canada is returning to Israel and will not be replaced, the Defense Ministry told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
The Defense Ministry said Col. Ilan Or’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Embassy is part of a global realignment of Israel’s Defense Attache network. A defense attaché is a high-ranking army officer who serves as a defense and security representative at a country's diplomatic mission abroad. They act as the primary military adviser to the ambassador and as a liaison between the IDF and Canada's defense body (in this case).
Defense responsibilities to shift to Washington
The Defense Ministry said that, taking into account existing resources, it has been decided that the position of the Defense Attaché to Canada will continue to be carried out through a cross-accredited defense attaché based in Washington, DC.
"This arrangement ensures full continuity of engagement while leveraging the capabilities of our robust Defense Attaché Office in Washington," the ministry told the Post.
It added that similar cross-accreditation arrangements are widely used, particularly dual accreditations covering both the US and Canada.
First time in 14 years without a resident defense attaché
This marks the first time in 14 years that Canada will be without a defense attaché. The Post understands that it comes at a time of particularly strained relations between Israel and Canada.
Nevertheless, the defense ministry told the Post that "Israel attaches great importance to its defense relationship with Canada and remains fully committed to maintaining and further strengthening defense cooperation between the two countries."
MOD says defense cooperation will continue
"Accordingly, the role of the Defense Attaché with respect to Canada has neither been abolished nor neglected; rather, it will continue to be carried out through a different operational framework."
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.