Minister in Israel

Schallenberg: Katz not against two-state solution

From the left: Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz(Bild: APA/BMEIA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP) is currently traveling in the Middle East (see video above). On Tuesday, he met with his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz, who, according to Schallenberg, "is not at all against a two-state solution." He just does not want an imposed solution.

This contradicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has always vehemently rejected calls for a two-state solution. Another topic of the conversation was the upcoming military operation in the border town of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. Katz had assured Schallenberg that he would clarify what would happen to the civilian population before launching an offensive. In the north of the Gaza Strip, for example, further corridors would be opened for humanitarian aid, Schallenberg said on Tuesday.

From left: Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz(Bild: APA/BMEIA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

Schallenberg in conversation with relatives of hostages(Bild: APA/BMEIA/MICHAEL GRUBER)

"Encouraging signs" 
 "Encouraging signs" have also been seen in the negotiations on a ceasefire and the release of hostages. The envisaged agreement with Hamas is likely to include 40 hostages, meaning that 90 would still be held by the terrorist organization. According to Schallenberg, the Israeli side assumes that the abductees are in Rafah.

Among them is an Austrian-Israeli hostage - Tal Shoham. Schallenberg has now met with his father in Tel Aviv, who expressed his gratitude for the support. "We are working very intensively on this at all levels," said the Foreign Minister, referring to his contacts with counterparts from Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, among others.

On Wednesday, the politician will make appointments in Jerusalem, the Palestinian administrative center of Ramallah and the Jordanian capital Amman. On Thursday he will travel to Libya, and on Friday morning Schallenberg is expected back in Vienna.