Maldives relations with Israel will be based on their cooperation with Palestine

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Naseem has said that the Maldivian government’s relations with the state of the Jews, Israel will be based on their cooperation with the establishment of the sovereign Palestinian State.

Minister Naseem said this while briefing the media about his recent visit to Palestine and Israel. During the press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister Naseem spoke on the purpose of his visit, noting that discussions were held between Palestinian leaders to discuss the work being carried out at the international arena to fulfill the long awaited dream of a sovereign Palestinian State. During the Minister’s visit he also met with the key Israeli leaders.

During yesterday's press conference, the Minister also briefed the media about upcoming activities planned for the Ministry and at Missions abroad.

Minister Naseem said that he held discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on issues concerning the peace process and the Palestinian reconciliation agreement.

He added that the reconciliation agreement signed recently in Cairo between Fatah and Hamas aims to end internal Palestinian division and to hold presidential and legislative elections.

Minister Naseem also met with Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and told him that the Palestinian institutions are ready to function in an independent state once it is approved by the international community.He then met Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Riyad al-Malki, and the two officials discussed development in the region and efforts to get international recognition of a Palestinian state by September.

Minister Naseem expressed support for the declaration of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. He expressed support for the reconciliation agreement.

Minister Naseem also met with President of Israel, Shimon Peres and had dinner with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman.

Israel and the Republic of Maldives have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1965 (Israel was the third state to recognize the Muslim island nation and its ambassador was the first to present his credentials to the president of the Maldives). Relations were suspended in 1974.

Relations began to improve at the beginning of the 1990’s. The present government maintains relations of appreciation and friendship with Israel; the two states have signed three agreements in the fields of health, tourism and education.

In 2010 a delegation of eye doctors from the Israeli humanitarian aid organization Eye from Zion visited the Maldives and performed eye operations in two locations in the islands. The delegation was coordinated and partially funded by Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV, a department of the Israeli Foreign Ministry). Israeli tourists now can visit the Maldives without a visa.