International Desk: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday said his country would be cooperating with the United Arab Emirates to fight against the coronavirus pandemic, despite a lack of diplomatic ties.
In a statement, PM Netanyahu said, “This collaboration will be in the areas of research and development and technology, in areas that will improve health security throughout the region”.
He did not give further details, but said that the planned cooperation — to be announced formally by health ministers for Israel and the UAE — “is the result of prolonged and intense contacts in recent months”.
His remarks come just days before Israel intends to kick-start US-backed plans to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley, The Statesman reported.
The number of coronavirus cases in Israel has risen to 22,400 after 356 new ones were added, according to the health ministry.
The death toll from the virus rose from 308 to 309, while the number of patients in serious condition increased from 46 to 47, out of 186 patients currently hospitalised.
