Netanyahu proposes international corporation to battle pandemics

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed to six other heads of states that they join forces to combat the current and future pandemics in a more coordinated manner.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu stands in front of a screen showing the president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, during a video conference with European leaders in order to discuss challenges and cooperation between various countries in dealing with COVID-19 coronavirus, at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on March 9, 2020. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu stands in front of a screen showing the president of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, during a video conference with European leaders in order to discuss challenges and cooperation between various countries in dealing with COVID-19 at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on March 9, 2020. - MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images
Rina Headshot
Rina Bassist
@RinaBassist

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated this week in a videoconference of heads of state hosted by Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. He was joined by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

The Jan. 18 meeting was the sixth of its kind. The forum was founded last April by Kurz to share best practices in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, with the intention of including countries that dealt succesfully with the first coronavirus wave. Netanyahu has been supportive of the Austrian initiative since its beginning.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more