Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has started a short visit to Israel today. Talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his new coalition partner Benni Ganz are planned later today.
Topics include the joint fight against the coronavirus pandemic, regional security issues and Iran. Pompeo also wanted to persuade Israel to severely restrict economic relations with China, Israeli television reported.
According to Israeli media reports, Pompeo also meets Gabi Ashkenazi from the Blue-White center alliance, who is to become foreign minister in the new Israeli government. Before the visit, Pompeo affirmed that annexation plans in the occupied West Bank were “ultimately an Israeli decision”. The Palestinian leadership has strongly condemned this.
New government sworn in tomorrow
The new Israeli government, which provides for a rotation of Netanyahu and Ganz as prime minister, is due to be sworn in tomorrow. Part of the coalition agreement is Israel’s intentions to annex the West Bank settlements and the Jordan Valley in accordance with US President Donald Trump’s Middle East plan. The plans are highly controversial internationally.
