Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 23, 2022
From the Liveblog of
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Dutch PM Rutte to arrive in Israel Monday for two-day trip to advance bilateral ties
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks during a news conference on new COVID-19 restrictions in the Hague, on November 12, 2021 (Sem van der Wal / ANP / AFP)
Long-time Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is slated to land in Israel tomorrow for a two-day visit intended to advance bilateral ties.
It will focus on enhancing cooperation in the fields of energy, water, agriculture and food security.
Rutte will meet Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu. He will also speak with President Isaac Herzog.
Israel’s Ambassador to The Netherlands Modi Ephraim will join Rutte for the visit.
Lapid invited Rutte to visit in July, when the Dutch leader called to offer his congratulations on assuming the premiership. They spoke then about Iran and the war in Ukraine.
