Netanyahu, Peres Leave for World Economic Forum
JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Wednesday for the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. President Shimon Peres, who accompanied him on the flight, will receive an award there on Friday.
In his remarks to the forum, Netanyahu will highlight the nation's hi-tech industry under the banner, "Israel, a Nation of Innovation." He hopes to promote new markets for Israel in meetings with leading tech companies, including Google and Yahoo.
"My intention is to talk with leading global hi-tech companies to tell them to come to Israel, invest in Israel and create jobs in Israel," Netanyahu said Tuesday. "This will be good for them and good for us as well."
Netanyahu will likely meet with Secretary of State John Kerry, who arrives on Thursday. He will also meet with Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, among others.
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni will travel to Davos from Washington, where she's been meeting with Kerry and other U.S. officials on the peace talks. She will participate in a panel discussion at the forum with Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat and Obama administration envoy Martin Indyk.
Among Arab heads of states attending the forum in Davos are Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Sami Judeh, along with Zarif, will take part in a panel discussion on the "End Game for the Middle East."
