Tánaiste Micheál Martin will conclude his three-day visit to the Middle East today with a visit to Jordan, where he will meet with the country’s deputy prime minister.
Before he departs Jerusalem, Mr Martin will meet with Israeli president Isaac Herzog at his residence in the city.
“I look forward to meeting Israeli President Isaac Herzog and discussing our bilateral relations and regional issues,” the Tánaiste said in a statement.
In neighbouring Jordan, the Tánaiste will have a range of meetings, including with the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ayman Safadi, and several United Nations agencies, including the UN Refugee Agency and the World Food Programme.
Mr Martin will sign a memorandum of understanding between Ireland and Jordan with Mr Safadi, to establish political consultations.
It is the first visit by the Tánaiste to Jordan since the opening of Ireland’s Embassy in the capital, Amman, in 2019.
Mr Martin will visit Hussein Technical University to discuss innovation and entrepreneurship with academics, as well as participants in the Embassy for Youth Entrepreneurship Programme who have visited Ireland.
The Tánaiste emphasised Ireland’s support of refugees, noting that he would meet with Syrian refugees.
During his visit, he will also meet the winners of the Jordan Young Scientist Competition. Inspired by the Irish equivalent, the contest was established by the Irish embassy in Jordan last year.
Yesterday, the Tánaiste told the president of the Palestinian Authority that Ireland hoped to push for greater consensus in the European Union before formally recognising Palestinian statehood.
At a meeting in the occupied West Bank, the Tánaiste told Mahmoud Abbas that Ireland ultimately supported formal recognition, but that such a move would have greater impetus if multiple EU member states moved together on the issue.
The Tánaiste also laid a wreath on the tomb of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
Mr Arafat was Mr Abbas’ immediate predecessor as president of the Palestinian Authority, and is considered a founding father of Palestinian nationalism.