Latest news with #NirBarkat
France 24
4 days ago
- Business
- France 24
'We don't want a Palestinian state,' Israeli economy minister says
Israel 's Economy Minister Nir Barkat was categorical about his country's position. "We don't want a Palestinian state," he told FRANCE 24, proposing instead an "emirate model" for Palestinians in the West Bank, arguing that "successful Arab countries are tribal based". Barkat also dismissed the Oslo Accords as a failure, noting that 99 out of 120 Israeli lawmakers had voted against a Palestinian state. This week has seen a string of deadly incidents near aid distribution sites in Gaza operated by the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Barkat insisted that Israel was working with the Americans to ensure aid reaches civilians directly, bypassing Hamas. "We want to separate, make sure that the aid goes directly to the people and Hamas wants to fight that. They want to control the people through the aid that is passed to Gaza," he claimed. Despite Western pressure, 'nobody's going to stop us' Since Israel launched its expanded Gaza offensive known as "Operation Gideon's Chariots" in May, Western capitals including the UK, France and Canada have issued strongly-worded joint statements threatening "concrete" actions against Israel. 09:35 "Nobody's going to stop us because it's our neck on the line", Barkat said in reaction to this criticism. "I expect the world to understand who the real enemy of the free world [is]: the jihadists, the terrorists ... Don't support them." The minister also issued a warning to France, one of the countries that could soon recognise a Palestinian state. "Don't take the wrong route," he said, urging Paris to instead "support the only democracy in the Middle East" and "help us finish the war quickly".
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Adams signs business agreement with Israel, blasts calls for divesting from country amid Gaza war
Mayor Adams signed a business engagement agreement with Israel's government on Monday, seeking to draw a sharp contrast with local progressive Democrats calling for divesting from the country over its military campaign in Gaza. Adams, who has centered his reelection bid on a need to combat antisemitism in the city, signed the agreement with Israeli Economic Minister Nir Barkat while appearing together at the Jerusalem Post conference in Manhattan. The agreement establishes a council, staffed by City Hall and Israeli government reps, tasked with finding ways to 'enhance economic cooperation.' Specifically, the panel will 'support Israeli companies' seeking to set up shop in New York, with a focus on firms in the artificial intelligence, life sciences and environmental innovation sectors, per the agreement. The war in Gaza has prompted growing calls across the globe for sanctions against Israel. In New York, progressive politicians, including mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, have voiced support for pulling U.S. funding and investments from Israel. In remarks before signing the agreement, Adams pushed back against those calls and aligned himself with Israel, while referring to Barkat, a member of Netanyahu's ruling right-wing party, as his 'good friend' and 'brother.' 'Several politicians in this city and some running for mayor have called for the disinvestment in Israel. Well, they got another thing coming,' he said, adding that the city will continue to foster business ties with Israel 'as long as I am mayor.' Adams has made support for Israel a key focus of his bid for a second term, an effort that stands to curry favor with the city's politically influential Jewish Orthodox community. Amid fallout from the Trump administration's controversial dismissal of his corruption indictment, Adams dropped out of the Democratic mayoral primary last month and announced he's instead seeking reelection as an independent in November's general election, running on an 'EndAntiSemitism' ballot line. Monday's announcement comes after Adams launched a new Office to Combat Antisemitism last week that he says will, in part, focus on pulling any city funding from nonprofits his administration deems antisemitic.
Bloomberg
30-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Israel to Expand Trade Eastward as It Looks Beyond War Economy
Israel is turning to markets in the Arabian Peninsula and India to boost trade as the government seeks to increase exports from $150 billion to almost $1 trillion over the next 15 years, according to Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat. The government has identified Dubai, the Middle East's center for trade, finance and tourism, as a hub for the expansion, Barkat said in an interview in the city last week. About 600 Israeli companies have started working in the United Arab Emirates since the two countries established diplomatic relations as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, he said.
Reuters
28-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Israel favours upgrading US free trade deal, economy minister says
JERUSALEM, April 28 (Reuters) - Israel has proposed revamping its four-decade-old free trade agreement with the United States, its economy minister said on Monday, as it looks to head off tariffs from its closest ally. An upgraded trade pact would ease restrictions on data sharing that would enable significant collaboration, Economy Minister Nir Barkat told Reuters at a conference in Jerusalem. He said Israel had already agreed to several requests, which included lifting tariffs on U.S. agricultural goods. Most U.S. goods are already exempt from Israeli tariffs under a 1985 trade deal. The U.S. is Israel's biggest trading partner with bilateral trade worth an estimated $37 billion in 2024, according to U.S. trade data. Last year, Israel had a $7.4 billion trade surplus with the United States. President Donald Trump's administration this month announced sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries, including a 17% levy on Israeli imports, before saying there would be a 90-day pause with a baseline 10% tariff on imports to allow for trade negotiations. Prior to the sweeping tariffs announcement, Israel said it would lift all remaining import duties on U.S. goods and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Trump in Washington.
Reuters
13-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Israel to ease import regulations for US goods
JERUSALEM, March 13 (Reuters) - Israel on Thursday further softened regulations on imports to make it easier for goods from the United States to enter the country, aiming partly to lower the cost of living. Until last year, all goods entering Israeli seaports needed to be checked by local officials but under a plan originally launched in 2021, Israel started adopting international standards under which a product that complies with European regulation and is marketed in Europe can be sold in Israel. Economy Minister Nir Barkat said that programme was raising the bar to include the United States. "What is good for the U.S. is certainly good for the Israeli consumer," he said. "Expanding imports from the U.S. will encourage competition, introduce new players into the market, and lower prices for the Israeli consumer." His ministry would continue to act vigilantly to ease the process for importers and benefit consumers, he said. "Products meeting relevant American regulations applicable to Israel will be able to enter the Israeli market more efficiently, without unnecessary regulations and tests, while maintaining health standards, public safety, and environmental protection," the ministry said. It noted that the U.S. is Israel's largest export market and the potential of boosting imports from there is still vast and opens Israel to a wider range of products. The ministry said its standards teams will soon begin work on adopting relevant U.S. standards. Israel's inflation rate stands at 3.8% but the cost of living has jumped significantly, partly owed to Israel's war with Palestinian militant group Hamas that has hurt the supply chain.
