(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte’s trip to Israel in September will not hurt the country’s ties with Arab nations that do not recognize it, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday, Aug. 30.
According to Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella, “I believe we have reached the stage of maturity in our relations that they understand, each one of them.”
“I believe the President has proven in many, many ways, again and again that it is possible to have this kind of independent foreign policy, will satisfy the demands and needs of each particular relation,” Abella said.
Without giving specifics, the President said Duterte would visit “significant spots” in Israel in his trip slated from Sept. 2 to 5.
Media reports in Israel said the Philippine President will visit Yad Vashem, a Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.
“But definitely, the visit is about strengthening ties and enhancing economic cooperation, and sharing of expertise to overcome shared challenges,” Abella said.
