PM leaves Malta to visit Israel, Palestine

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning left Malta for an official visit to Israel and Palestine, in which he is expected to meet President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other members of the Israeli cabinet.

While visiting Palestine, Muscat will also meet his counterpart Rami Hamdallah.

Talks on bilateral relations and the peace process in the Middle East will be the subject of discussions during the three-day visit.

Discussed with @Netanyahu future of #Malta-#Israel relations esp in #health and #R+D. Reiterated support for peace talks with #Palestine -JM — Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) October 15, 2013

The Prime Minister is also expected to meet high ranked officials from the Quartet, which was established in 2002 to support economic development in Palestine and encourage peace talks between the two sides.

The Quartet is made up of officials from United Nations, the European Union, the United States of America and Russia.

This meeting was scheduled after an invitation by former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair.

Muscat is being accompanied by his wife Michelle, Foreign Affairs minister George Vella, Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella and MP Charles Buhagiar.