A new coalition could soon take power in Israel, but this does not signal a change in the country’s foreign policy, according to Israel’s ambassador in Singapore.
“As far as foreign policy is concerned, we see a continuation of the previous government policy,” Sagi Karni told CNBC “Capital Connection” on Wednesday.
That means Israel will continue to uphold and expand the Abrahamic Accords, engage with the rest of the world, and see “a change” in Gaza, he said.
The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, will vote on a new government on Sunday. If successful, the coalition, led by opposition party leader Yair Lapid and tech millionaire Naftali Bennett, will be sworn in and Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be deposed. The coalition also includes an Islamist party.
Bennett, who leads a far-right minority party, will initially be prime minister before the centrist Lapid takes office after around two years.
Foreign relations
A Lapid Bennett government is unlikely to change Israel’s relations with other countries, Karni said.
“Our policy was very clear that we are open and have normal and good relations with all countries, including the Muslim countries here in Southeast Asia that you were referring to,” he said.
Muslim majority countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei have no diplomatic relations with Israel and issued a joint statement in May condemning Tel Aviv’s “violations and aggression” against the Palestinians.
Karni said Israel needs to protect its citizens but has “no quarrel” with any countries in Southeast Asia.
We would like to extend the peace circle to the Muslim countries here in the region.
Sagi Karni
Israel’s ambassador to Singapore
“We would like to extend the peace circle to the Muslim countries here in the region,” he said.
“But we can’t force it on them,” he added. “It’s up to them to join and they know we’re interested, but they also have their own domestic concerns.”
Still, he noted that Israel had trade relations with Indonesia that began decades ago.
“Things can get a lot better, of course, but it’s up to them. We’ll be ready to move as soon as they’re done,” he said.
US-Israel Relations
The leader of the Israeli party Yemina, Naftali Bennett, will make a political statement on May 30, 2021 in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem.
YONATAN SINDEL | AFP | Getty Images
But after a ceasefire, Foreign Minister Antony Blinken traveled to the Middle East on a visit that included meetings with Israeli leaders about “our iron commitment to Israel’s security,” Biden said in a statement.
“I think there is very strong US support for Israel,” said Karni. “Support for Israel’s right to self-defense.”
He added that developments in the Middle East, such as the Abraham Accords – a series of agreements between Israel and some Arab League countries – were “a very positive development” that would bring stability to the region and promote US interests
“I don’t see any big changes when the new Israeli cabinet comes to power next week,” he said.