From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 12, 2023
FM Cohen speaks with EU foreign policy chief, with hopes for closer ties
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen speaks with EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell, and stresses the importance of the EU-Israel Association Council meeting that took place in October for the first time in a decade.
According to the Israeli readout, Cohen also expresses his hope that EU-Israel ties will continue to grow.
The call comes amid an expectation that while Jerusalem’s relationship with Europe will blossom in trade, research, and energy, the two will clash over diplomatic issues like the Temple Mount, East Jerusalem, and settlement construction in the West Bank.
Cohen also speaks with Croatian FM Gordan Grlić-Radman, and thanks Zagreb for voting against the UN General Assembly resolution to refer the Israel-Palestinian conflict to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Cohen also congratulates his counterpart on Croatia becoming the 27th nation to join the Schengen Area, the biggest visa-free area in the world. It also became the 20th country to join the eurozone on January 1.
The Foreign Ministry also announces that Cohen spoke yesterday with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Guatemala’s top diplomat Mario Bucaro.
Mario Bucaro was Guatemala’s ambassador to Israel in 2018-2020, weeks after the Central American country opened its embassy in Jerusalem
The Times of Israel Community.