Israel and Austria Move Closer Together: Strategic Partnership Agreement in Preparation

PeoplePoliticians ♦ Published: March 31, 2022; 13:38 ♦ (Vindobona)

The strengthening of bilateral relations and common economic interests prompted Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Economics Minister Schramböck to visit Israel. The invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine as well as talks on the normalization process between Israel and several Arab states were on the agenda.

Schallenberg and Schramböck in conversation with victims of the Holocaust. / Picture: © BMEIA Bundesministerium für Europa, Integration und Äußeres / Gruber / Flickr Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

The Israeli government received Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Economics Minister Schramböck. The aim of the trip was to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic links.

The two ministers spent 2 days in Israel and had a busy program. In addition to a working meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister and alternate Prime Minister Yair Lapid, the program also included the awarding of Austrian citizenship to 5 Israeli citizens in memory of the victims of National Socialism.

The focus of the talks between Foreign Minister Schallenberg and his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid was on strengthening and consolidating Austrian-Israeli relations. …