Duterte set to visit Israel in September

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte is scheduled to leave for Israel on Sept. 3 for a two-day visit, making him the first Philippine president to visit the Jewish state. 

A Malacañang official confirmed that Duterte would be going to Israel, but refused to give more details pending the official announcement from the Office of the President.

Duterte was supposed to visit Israel in May last year. But it was cancelled due to the Marawi siege, which prompted him to declare martial law in Mindanao.

Among the issues to be discussed during Duterte’s visit are the signing of long-term care agreements between the two countries, combating drug trafficking, examining the possibility of direct flight routes between Israel and the Philippines.

Duterte will also push for agricultural cooperation and security deals during the two-day visit. He will be accompanied by a delegation of Filipino businessmen.

In 2016, Duterte sparked international uproar when he said he would be happy to kill three million drug addicts as Adolf Hitler slaughtered six million Jews in the Holocaust.

Duterte drew flak when he said he has been “portrayed to be a cousin of Hitler” by his critics.

The strong criticisms prompted Duterte to apologize and pay a visit to the Beit Yaakov Synagogue in Manila during the Jewish New Year.

He said he never intended to derogate the memory of the six million Jews murdered under Hitler before and during World War II. – With AP