Israel to help PNG with Defence, Security and Intelligence Capabilities

Israel happy to help PNG. Photo: EMTV

ISRAEL has signalled its willingness to help Papua New Guinea with defence, security and intelligence capabilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Prime Minister Peter O’Neill during a meeting in Jerusalem that Israel had long-established capabilities in these areas.

“Israel is willing to deploy an inter-departmental delegation from Israel to PNG to discuss these matters and offer the relevant assistance specifically for defence, security and intelligence training and capacity building and for farming and irrigation,” Netanyahu said.

Before the meeting, O’Neill and Netanyahu signed a joint declaration of cooperation which will serve as the umbrella agreement to manage all aspects of existing relations.

Netanyahu and Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato also concluded an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic services, official and ordinary passports.

In terms of the proposed establishment of a PNG diplomatic mission in Israel, Netanyahu was quick to respond, saying: “Oh yeah, if you want to, I can give you the real estate in Israel now”.

Both prime ministers agreed that discussion should commence immediately to establish a PNG diplomatic presence in Tel Aviv – the economic capital of Israel.

Netanyahu also accepted an invitation to visit PNG in the next few months.

O’Neill told Netanyahu his two-day visit, the first to Israel by a prime minister of PNG, was to reactivate and give practical meaning to overall relations between the two countries.

“Israel being a nation established in 1948 had gone through a very difficult period towards achieving nationhood,” O’Neill said.

“The Jewish people despite these adversities had transformed their economy from an agro-based society to a high-tech industry-based economy.”

The National