Israeli officials on Thursday said Israel and Bahrain have signed an agriculture cooperation deal bringing closer the countries that forged ties under a U.S.-diplomatic push in 2020.
Israel’s Agriculture Ministry in a statement said the signing took place at an international conference in the Red Sea port of Eilat whose focus included “innovation in aquaculture, as part of global efforts to address food security.’’
Also present were delegates from United Arab Emirates and Morocco, which also drew closer to Israel under the so-called “Abraham Accords” two years ago.
The Israeli ministry said that pursuant to a government decision, Eilat would “become a centre for research and development of food from the sea and the desert”
In other news, French President Emmanuel Macron says he will work with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to find a solution to Europe’s gas price problems in Brussels.
“I think it’s neither good for Germany nor for Europe if Germany is isolating itself,” Macron said on his arrival at a summit of EU leaders, stressing the importance of maintaining unity.
Finding a joint strategy to ease the European Union’s ailing energy market is set to drive discussions in Brussels this week, as EU leaders convene for a two-day summit from Oct. 20 to 21.
Energy prices – determined by the price of gas, coal, and oil had already soared across the globe after Coronavirus lockdowns were lifted and economies opened up, and the war in Ukraine has only exacerbated the crisis.
Moscow’s decision to cut gas supplies to the EU since launching the invasion has had a dynamic impact on gas prices within the bloc.
Germany is under criticism for opposing gas price measures as called for by other EU member states.
France supports such a move.
Macron also announced that France, Spain, and Portugal had agreed to build a new pipeline project between his country and the Iberian Peninsula, abandoning the contested MidCat-Pipeline.
EU leaders and their energy ministers have held a string of meetings over the past few weeks to find solutions to reduce these high prices. But a united strategy is not yet on the table.
Divisions persist over “capping prices” with some EU states, including Belgium, Italy, Poland, and Greece, wanting a pan-European wholesale price cap on gas.
Others, such as the Netherlands and Germany are against such a move, fearing it would hurt the global supply and demand of gas.