Economic Affairs Minister Maxime Verhagen will visit Israel and the Palestinian Territories this week. Minister Verhagen is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.

Mr Verhagen will discuss the Middle East peace process, the situation in the region and possible further cooperation in the fields of economy, agriculture and innovation. Later this week, Mr Verhagen is scheduled to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liebermann.

The Dutch cabinet wants to strengthen its economic and political relations in the region. In 2010, Dutch exports to Israel were in excess of 1.2 billion euros, and the Netherlands makes a contribution towards the economic structure of a future Palestinian state.

(gsh/mw)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide