Pompeo Lands in Israel, Friedman is Sick
13 May, 2020 |
6 years ago
Jerusalem, 13 May, 2020 (TPS-IL) -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo disembarked his airplane after landing in Ben Gurion airport in Israel on Wednesday morning, ahead of his meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders later in the day in Jerusalem.
Pompeo will also meet with Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister-to-be Gabby Ashkenazi.
A statement by the state Department on Friday said that he is in Israel to “discuss US and Israeli efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as regional security issues related to Iran’s malign influence.”
This is Pompeo’s first overseas trip since March. He will be in Israel for less than a day.
In the meantime, a US Embassy Spokesperson announced Wednesday morning that US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman will not be attending the meetings.
Friedman “is experiencing mild upper-respiratory symptoms. He was tested for COVID-19 and the result was negative. Nevertheless, in an abundance of caution, State Department medical staff have recommended that Ambassador Friedman not be in proximity with Secretary Pompeo,” the statement said.
