October 17, 2023

A roundup of domestic and international news

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Newsroom, 17.10.2023, 13:55

VISIT TO ISRAEL – Prime Minister
Marcel Ciolacu is on a visit to Israel, where he is holding talks with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of the Romanian community,
affected by the escalation of the security climate in the region. The Romanian
official will also meet Menachem Hacohen, a great rabbi of the Jewish community
in Romania over 1997-2011. I went to Israel to convey our message of
solidarity with the Israeli people and our strong support for the Romanian
community in this country. In these troubled times, Romania remains a pillar of
stability and peace, defending democratic values and human rights and firmly
combating terrorism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and hate speech, Prime Minister
Marcel Ciolacu said. Accompanying the Prime Minister’s delegation are also Defense
Minister Angel Tîlvăr, Foreign Minister Luminița Odobescu, deputy Silviu
Vexler, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, as well
as Romania’s Ambassador to Israel, Radu Ioanid.

WAR IN GAZA – Romania’s
president, Klaus Iohannis, is today attending a special meeting of the European
Council, held by video conference and called by European Council president
Charles Michel in the context of concerns the war between Israel and Hamas
could exacerbate tensions between communities and trigger a new migratory wave
towards Europe. We need to ensure assistance to affected civilians. We need to
avoid the conflict from escalating by engaging all regional actors. The
solution is sustainable peace based on a two-state solution. This conflict can
breed tensions between our communities and amplify extremism. Finally, there is
a major risk of migration and movements of a large number of people to
neighboring countries, Charles Michel said.

US SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL – US President Joe
Biden will also travel to Israel on Wednesday for talks with the Israeli Prime
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel has a right to defend itself, State
Secretary Antony Blinken said. President Biden is expected to reaffirm US
solidarity with Israel ahead of this country’s planned offensive against Hamas
militants in Gaza, Secretary Blinken also said. According to the US official,
president Biden will be briefed concerning Israel’s operations, which are aimed
at minimizing the loss of civilian lives and allowing humanitarian aid to reach
Gaza before being intercepted by Hamas. In turn, Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu is holding talks with other leaders. The Israeli official talked to
the Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, who conveyed his condolences for the victims
of the October 7 Hamas attack, condemning any and all attacks on the civilian
population. Today, Germany’s chancellor Olaf Scholz is also expected to arrive
in Israel to meet Prime Minister Netanyahu, president Herzog and Defense
Minister yoav Gallant. Chancellor Scholz will also meet with the parents of the
young German people held hostage in Gaza. Olaf Scholz is the first head of
state to visit Israel to express solidarity with this country.

ATTACK – The man suspected
of killing two Swedish tourists yesterday night in Brussels has been detained
this morning in the Belgian capital. A Federal Prosecutor’s Office spokesman
told AFP the man was arrested after police officers opened fire, without
however revealing his authority or mentioning if the attacker was wounded in
the exchange. The attack had been claimed in an online video by an individual
who said the attack was inspired by the Islamic State, which prompted the
authorities to treat the incident as a terrorist attack and raise alert levels.
The attacker could be of Tunisian origin, Belgian media writes.

NATURAL GAS – Romania’s gas deposits are at full
capacity, which means our country could get through the winter without gas
imports, provided it is mild, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said. Romania
can also provide assistance to the Republic of Moldova, if needed. Maintaining
the cap on electricity and gas prices for household users is necessary in the
context of the crisis in the Middle East impacting global energy markets,
Minister Burduja went on to say. (VP)