Virtual Meeting Hosts Israeli, Saudi Foreign Ministers: Report
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by i24 News
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a news conference as he meets with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat, Morocco August 11, 2021. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
i24 News – A virtual summit hosted by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was held last week to discuss the omicron COVID-19 variant, with the participation of foreign ministers from several countries reportedly including Israel and Saudi Arabia.
The participation of Israel and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in such proceedings is considered unusual as the two states don’t hold diplomatic relations.
Despite neither country confirming the kingdom’s participation, a Saudi official told CNN that Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud was present at the virtual summit.
The statement issued by US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that Blinken spoke with “several foreign ministers and representatives of regional organizations involved in the response to the omicron variant.”
“The ministers were briefed on initial scientific findings of the variant’s severity, transmissibility, and existing treatments and C,” the statement added.
Price did not specify which countries were represented in the meeting.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who confirmed his own presence, noted in a tweet that the call took place on December 21 and included the foreign ministers of Japan, India, Mexico, Australia, Germany, and others without referencing Saudi Arabia.
This evening, I participated in a virtual meeting of Foreign Ministers about the Omicron variant, together with @SecBlinken and the Foreign Ministers of Japan, India, Mexico, Australia, Germany, and additional countries.
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) December 21, 2021
According to CNN, the US State Department did not respond to questions about the kingdom’s participation.
The US State Department disclosed that Blinken also announced $580 million in new funds for seven multilateral partners to “strengthen public health capacity and provide urgent relief.”
