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Zenger
Zenger
World
JNS Reporter

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen Begins Diplomatic Tour, Visits Rome And Vatican City

Prime minister Giorgia Meloni meets at Palazzo Chigi the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. Rome (Italy), March 10th, 2023. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is scheduled to arrive in Rome on Thursday, kicking off the second stop on a diplomatic tour that began on Wednesday in Serbia. PHOTO BY MASSIMO DI VITA/GETTY IMAGES  

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is scheduled to arrive in Rome on Thursday, kicking off the second stop on a diplomatic tour that began on Wednesday in Serbia.

In Rome, Cohen will meet with his Italian counterpart, as well as Italy’s deputy prime minister, before heading to Vatican city, where he is expected to sit down with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States.

The last time an Israeli foreign minister visited the Vatican was in 2011. Pope Francis traveled to Israel nine years ago, but canceled a 2022 visit amid a wave of Palestinian terror attacks.

Notably, the pontiff met with the families of Israelis being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip late last year.

On Wednesday, Cohen hailed as “important” his visit to Serbia, saying it had opened a “new page” in Israel’s relations with the European country.

Cohen met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and the Speaker of Parliament Vladimir Orlic.

President of the Jewish Community of Rome Ruth Dureghello, Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano and Israeli Ambassador to Italy Alon Bar attend the exhibition “Rome 1948 – Italian Art Toward Israel” at the Jewish Museum of Rome on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the birth of the state of Israel on April 26, 2023 in Rome, Italy. In Rome, Cohen, on his recent trip, will meet with his Italian counterpart, as well as Italy’s deputy prime minister, before heading to Vatican city, where he is expected to sit down with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States. PHOTO BY STEFANO MONTESI/GETTY IMAGES 

“We agreed that after years of stagnation in relations between the countries, we will work to expand cooperation between Israel and Serbia,” said Cohen in referring to the dispute over Israel’s 2020 establishment of diplomatic relations with Kosovo.

“This will contribute to the interests of both nations, and will strengthen Israel’s position in the Balkans,” he added.

Cohen’s visit to Belgrade marked the first time Israel’s most senior diplomat traveled to the Serbian capital since 2009.

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

Edited by Saba Fatima and Asad Ali

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