Israel, Italy discuss Israeli gas exports to Europe. Bennett’s office said in a separate statement that the leaders talked about boosting Israeli gas exports to Europe in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Tuesday held talks with visiting Italian counterpart Mario Draghi to discuss a deal on exporting Israel’s natural gas to Europe.
They discussed “the cooperation necessary to ensure that Israel’s natural gas can also be used in Europe,” which is “good news for Israel, Italy and Europe,” Bennett said in a joint statement issued by the two sides.
The two leaders held a private meeting followed by an expanded meeting between Israeli and Italian officials with the participation of Israeli Energy Minister Karine Elharrar.
Bennett’s office said in a separate statement that the leaders talked about boosting Israeli gas exports to Europe in the wake of the crisis in Ukraine.
“They discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Israel and Italy, the implications of the war in Ukraine, ways to deal with the global food crisis, and possibilities for cooperation in energy, especially in light of the potential for exporting natural gas to Europe via Egypt,” the statement said.
The talks were part of a recent bid by the European Union to strengthen its energy cooperation with Israel in an attempt to decrease its dependence on Russian oil and gas.
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Earlier on Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is also visiting Israel, said in a speech at the Ben Gurion University in the southern city of Beer Sheva that the EU is “exploring ways to step up our energy cooperation with Israel.”
She said that the bilateral cooperation includes the work on an underwater power cable and a natural gas pipeline in the eastern Mediterranean.
Biden in the ME
U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Saudi Arabia next month and take part in a summit with leaders from Gulf and Arab countries, the Saudi Royal Court announced .
During the visit, which is set to take place on July 15 and 16, Biden will meet with Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to discuss areas of bilateral cooperation as well as joint efforts to address regional and global challenges, according to a statement from the Royal Court.
He will also attend a joint summit with the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as the King of Jordan, the president of Egypt, and the prime minister of Iraq.
The visit aims to enhance the bilateral historic relations and strategic partnership between the two countries, the statement said.