By YAAKOV KATZ
In his first visit abroad since taking office in May, Defense Minister Amir Peretz left Tuesday night for Belgium and France for talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, and French defense officials.
Last week, The Jerusalem Post reported that Israeli government ministries were working on drafting a position paper that will include guidelines and a strategy for turning Israel into a full-fledged member of NATO.
Peretz was accompanied on his trip by his bureau chief Brig.-Gen. (res.) Mike Herzog, his military attache Brig.-Gen. Eitan Dangot, and Col. (res.) Uri Naaman, coordinator for NATO and European Defense Organizations at the Defense Ministry.