DFA: Duterte's visit to Israel pursuant to foreign policy
Published Aug 30, 2018 03:06 pm
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that President Duterte's upcoming visit to Israel is pursuant to his independent foreign policy and should not affect the Philippines' relations with countries which do not recognize Israel as a state.
DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella made the statement during the pre-departure briefing in Malacañang Thursday, a few days before Duterte flies to Israel on September 2 to 5, and to the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan on September 6 to 8.
According to Abella, Duterte's trip is pursuant to his independent foreign policy and that the tension between Israel and Jordan should not affect the Philippines' ties with each of them.
"We have multilateral relations, and as we point it out we're friends to all and enemies to none. And this should not serve as an obstacle with our ongoing bilateral relationships with each of these nations," he said.
The former Palace spokesperson also said that the DFA is aware that not all countries recognize Israel as a sovereign state due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Of the 192 members of the United Nations, only 161 recognize Israel as an independent state.
"There are certain sensitivities that we are aware of, considering that we do have partners in the Middle East areas, other partners. So there are sensitivities to those matters," Abella said.
"But I believe we have reached a stage of maturity in our relations that they understand, each one of them; for example, host countries whom we consider partners, they are aware also that we are in a relationship with other nations like Israel. So it's important that we strike a balance," he added.
Abella also said that the international recognition of Israel as a sovereign state will not pose a challenge as Duterte has proven that the Philippines is really a friend to all.
"Is it going to propose a challenge? I believe not. 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 while satisfying the needs of each particular relations," he said.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been referred to as the world's "most intractable conflict", with the ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reaching 51 years.
According to Abella, Duterte will be visiting Israel upon the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while the visit to Jordan is upon the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II.
"These trips will be the first by a sitting Philippine president to both countries. The visits will mark historic milestones, benefit trade, and strengthen relationships with key partners in the Middle East," he said.
"Strengthening ties with these nations will promote economic growth, create new employment opportunities, and enhance security," he added. "A closer relationship with these nations means more opportunity to share expertise with each other in the fields of science, agriculture, industry and counter-terrorism," he continued.
Israel
With Israel, the Philippines is celebrating the 81st anniversary of the Open Doors policy of the Philippines under then President Manuel L. Quezon who offered shelter to more than a thousand Jews escaping the Holocaust in Europe.
The Philippines is also marking the 71st anniversary of the United Nations partition plan which it supported, the only Asian nation to do so and which paved the way to the creation of the state of Israel. The 61st anniversary of the formal establishment of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Israel is also being commemorated.
During the President's trip, Abella said that Duterte will be meeting with members of the Filipino community, and is also expected to visit "some significant spots" in the Holy Land.
"The renewal and expansion of our relations with Israel is in pursuit of our Friends to All, Enemies to None, foreign policy. The Philippines expects to do its part in promoting peace and stability in the region," he said.
Jordan
For Jordan, Abella said Duterte's visit will be an opportunity to return the visit of the late King Hussein who was in the Philippines on March 1, 1976, which marked the formal establishment of the diplomatic relations between Jordan and the Philippines.
"With Jordan, We're elevating our relationship with the Kingdom with the first-ever visit of a Filipino president to Jordan on the 6th to the 8th of September 2018," he said.
"The renewal and expansion of our relations with the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan is in pursuit of our Friends to All, Enemies to None foreign policy," he added.
DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
DFA Undersecretary Ernesto Abella made the statement during the pre-departure briefing in Malacañang Thursday, a few days before Duterte flies to Israel on September 2 to 5, and to the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan on September 6 to 8.
According to Abella, Duterte's trip is pursuant to his independent foreign policy and that the tension between Israel and Jordan should not affect the Philippines' ties with each of them.
"We have multilateral relations, and as we point it out we're friends to all and enemies to none. And this should not serve as an obstacle with our ongoing bilateral relationships with each of these nations," he said.
The former Palace spokesperson also said that the DFA is aware that not all countries recognize Israel as a sovereign state due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Of the 192 members of the United Nations, only 161 recognize Israel as an independent state.
"There are certain sensitivities that we are aware of, considering that we do have partners in the Middle East areas, other partners. So there are sensitivities to those matters," Abella said.
"But I believe we have reached a stage of maturity in our relations that they understand, each one of them; for example, host countries whom we consider partners, they are aware also that we are in a relationship with other nations like Israel. So it's important that we strike a balance," he added.
Abella also said that the international recognition of Israel as a sovereign state will not pose a challenge as Duterte has proven that the Philippines is really a friend to all.
"Is it going to propose a challenge? I believe not. 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 while satisfying the needs of each particular relations," he said.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been referred to as the world's "most intractable conflict", with the ongoing Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip reaching 51 years.
According to Abella, Duterte will be visiting Israel upon the invitation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while the visit to Jordan is upon the invitation of His Majesty King Abdullah II.
"These trips will be the first by a sitting Philippine president to both countries. The visits will mark historic milestones, benefit trade, and strengthen relationships with key partners in the Middle East," he said.
"Strengthening ties with these nations will promote economic growth, create new employment opportunities, and enhance security," he added. "A closer relationship with these nations means more opportunity to share expertise with each other in the fields of science, agriculture, industry and counter-terrorism," he continued.
Israel
With Israel, the Philippines is celebrating the 81st anniversary of the Open Doors policy of the Philippines under then President Manuel L. Quezon who offered shelter to more than a thousand Jews escaping the Holocaust in Europe.
The Philippines is also marking the 71st anniversary of the United Nations partition plan which it supported, the only Asian nation to do so and which paved the way to the creation of the state of Israel. The 61st anniversary of the formal establishment of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Israel is also being commemorated.
During the President's trip, Abella said that Duterte will be meeting with members of the Filipino community, and is also expected to visit "some significant spots" in the Holy Land.
"The renewal and expansion of our relations with Israel is in pursuit of our Friends to All, Enemies to None, foreign policy. The Philippines expects to do its part in promoting peace and stability in the region," he said.
Jordan
For Jordan, Abella said Duterte's visit will be an opportunity to return the visit of the late King Hussein who was in the Philippines on March 1, 1976, which marked the formal establishment of the diplomatic relations between Jordan and the Philippines.
"With Jordan, We're elevating our relationship with the Kingdom with the first-ever visit of a Filipino president to Jordan on the 6th to the 8th of September 2018," he said.
"The renewal and expansion of our relations with the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan is in pursuit of our Friends to All, Enemies to None foreign policy," he added.