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Zagreb - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit Croatia by the end of the year, it was said at a meeting of the Croatia-Israel parliamentary friendship group on Tuesday, when a Knesset delegation visited the Croatian parliament.
The two countries have the potential to develop a strategic partnership, said the heads of the group, Marijana Petir of Croatia and Michael Mordechai Biton of Israel.
The last time the bilateral cooperation was at parliamentary level was in 2018, while Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen visited Croatia this past May, which was the first official visit by an Israeli foreign minister in 12 years, it was said at the meeting.
The relations of our two states have reached a high level of mutual trust and good partnership, which has the potential to grow into a strategic partnership, Petir said, adding that Israel is an important Croatian ally on the foreign policy front.
She invited the Knesset delegation to Zagreb and recalled the support Croatia gave Israel in the EU and the UN.
Petir called on the delegation to support the introduction of direct flights between the two countries several times a week, saying it would advance trade and tourism. The cooperation could intensify in energy, science, agriculture and tourism, she added.
Biton thanked Croatia for a warm welcome and the close cooperation between the two countries. Croatia has a lot of support in Israel, he said, wishing for the two countries to create a strategic alliance.
He spoke of Israel's security challenges in the Middle East and thanked Croatia for its commitment to combating antisemitism and for adopting the definitions of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Israel will do its best so that Christians feel safe in Israel, he added.
The Knesset delegation included Deputy Speaker Yifat Shasha Biton and members Sasson Guetta and Yonatan Mashriki. On Wednesday, they will visit the LNG terminal on Krk island.