Duterte to be first PH president in Israel

President Rodrigo Duterte will visit Israel, the first Philippine President to do so, from Sept. 2 to 5.

Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed that the President had accepted the invitation of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the trip to Israel would be followed by a visit to Jordan, though no details of the Jordan trip were made available.

Roque said the President’s visit to Israel will be the first by a Philippine president since diplomatic ties were established between the Philippines and Israel in 1957.

According to Roque, the President and Netanyahu were expected to discuss cooperation on labor, tourism, trade, agriculture, counter terrorism, security and law enforcement.

Several agreements were expected to be signed during the President’s visit to Israel, but Roque did not disclose details.

After Israel, the President is expected to fly next to Jordan, which had offered military helicopters to the Philippines.

No date was released for the Jordan visit. —Julie M. Aurelio