Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday laid a wreath on the monument dedicated to former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated 14 years ago to the day by a Jewish extremist. The monument marks the spot where Rabin was killed. Dr Muscat was accompanied by the mayor of Tel Aviv and was applauded by passers-by as he laid the wreath. Photo: Clifton Fenech/DOI

Cancer patients could receive specialised care in Israeli hospitals as the Government explores avenues of cooperation in healthcare with the Middle Eastern state.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said yesterday collaboration with Israel on healthcare issues was “a strategic” long-term goal.

Health featured prominently in Dr Muscat’s three-day visit to Israel, which ends today.

He said the door to greater collaboration between both countries had been opened by the signing of a health action plan on Tuesday.

Asked what concrete measures would come out of the agreement, Dr Muscat said that, among other possibilities, Israel could provide doctor training, especially in oncology and the treatment of cancer patients, who were normally sent to the US and the UK for medical interventions unavailable in Malta.

Asked whether the collaboration would lead to Israeli investment in Mater Dei Hospital, Dr Muscat said the Government was not excluding anything but insisted the country could not rush.

“We are speaking of a society that is second only to the US in medical breakthroughs and they are willing to work with us,” Dr Muscat said soon after visiting the Weizmann Institute of Science in Tel Aviv.

They are second only to the US in medical breakthroughs and they are willing to work with us

The institute is a specialised research centre that has developed seven of the world’s top 25 life-changing drugs. One of the research programmes deals with cancer.

Dr Muscat and his wife Michelle were given a tour of the institute by Israel Bar-Joseph, vice president for research and development.

The institute is responsible for 80 per cent of Israel’s PhD graduates and Dr Muscat said the Government wanted to explore the possibility of Maltese students carrying out their research there.

“The students will have to qualify but I am sure we have capable people who could benefit from any collaboration with this world-renowned institute.”

Dr Muscat also visited the 800-bed Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem that offers a wide range of medical services, including speciality cancer care.

This is the first time that a Maltese prime minister has visited Israel and sources described the face-to-face meetings Dr Muscat had with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Justice Minister Tzvipi Livni on Tuesday as very frank and open.

Dr Muscat yesterday met Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom before addressing a business forum for Maltese and Israeli entrepreneurs.

The two discussed energy and water conservation projects, which will be followed up by more detailed talks next week between Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and Mr Shalom.

Dr Muscat is expected to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the West Bank town of Ramallah today.

Muscat addresses business forum in Tel Aviv

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat told Israeli investors in Tel Aviv yesterday that Malta’s EU membership and its vicinity to North Africa made it a unique investment opportunity.

He was addressing a business forum that was attended by Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom and Israeli and Maltese business people. Dr Muscat said cooperation on energy, water, health and scientific research and development were areas that Malta wanted to focus on. He noted that the creation of a life sciences centre in San Ġwann could be of interest to Israeli entrepreneurs.

“There is huge room for synergy between both countries and, although our closeness to North Africa may be politically sensitive, I have witnessed a willingness in Israel to reach out to markets in the Arab world. This is where I believe the greatest area of synergy exists,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr Muscat said there were about 400 companies based in Malta that had export markets in North Africa with 80 per cent of the trade done with Libya.

He noted that, apart from the obvious areas of tourism and financial services, Malta had a strong manufacturing base.

“The gyroscope chip in your mobile phone or tablet is probably produced in Malta,” he told the audience.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com