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Sunday, July 7, 2024
Katz to represent Israel at NATO summit in Washington to mark alliance’s 75th anniversary
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Foreign Minister Israel Katz will take off tonight to represent Israel at the NATO summit in Washington, DC, marking 75 years since the alliance’s founding.
NATO support for Ukraine, and the embattled country’s future relationship with the alliance, will dominate the summit. But Israel’s top diplomat is expected to try to keep a certain focus on Iran, which is backing Russia’s war in Ukraine, and both Hamas and Hezbollah as they fight Israel.
Katz will take part in two events hosted by US President Joe Biden, and one by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He will meet his European counterparts on the sidelines of the summit.
In addition to Israel, many of Washington’s Arab allies were invited as well, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — with which Israel has diplomatic relations — and Qatar and Tunisia, which do not recognize Israel.
Katz may well meet some of his Arab counterparts in Washington. Qatar is mediating hostage talks between Israel and Hamas, so a meeting between Katz and Qatari FM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani is not out of the question.
Katz is also expected to meet US legislators including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
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