Senate OKs reso establishing PHL-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Association

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate to promote relations between the Philippines and Israel through the establishment of a Philippines-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Association.

Senator Richard Gordon, sponsor of the resolution, said the formation of the Philippines-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Association would pave the way for regular discussions on matters of mutual interest and areas of mutual cooperation between the two nations.

“Israel is a developed country known for its high-technology designs and manufactures, and is considered as the start-up nation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even announced that it aspires to be the world’s 15th largest economy by 2025,” he said.

He added that Israel’s diverse market economy, which includes agricultural, service, tourism, high-technology, textiles, and diamond sectors, will support the Philippines’ own economy.

He further said more Filipino agriculture students are now learning new techniques in farming in Israel under the Granot Agrostudies, an apprenticeship program that focuses on agriculture capacity building.

As of December 2017, a total of 3,315 Filipino student-trainees had graduated from the program.

“Strengthened relations between the two nations will promote closer relations between Filipino and Israeli parliamentarians and, at the same time, help sustain the robust bilateral ties and strategic relationship between the two nations,” Gordon said.

Senate Resolution 757 stated that former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, in a letter dated January 5, 2017, invited the Knesset Parliament to send a delegation to visit the Philippines to promote closer relations between the two countries.

On April 24, 2018 Israel’s Knesset Deputy Speaker Nava Boker, by mutual agreement with Gordon, agreed to establish the Philippines-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Association, the resolution added.

As of May 28, 2018, a number of senators have agreed to become members of the Philippines-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Association.

The Philippines and Israel formally established its diplomatic relations on August 9, 1957. The two countries have over 60 years of diplomatic relations, and forged 17 bilateral agreements in several fields, such as air services, agriculture, tourism, double taxation, posts and telecommunications, customs and logistics, and defense. — BM, GMA News