5 Mar 2019

Samoans get visa-free entry to Israel

2:57 pm on 5 March 2019

Samoans can now travel to Israel without a visa following the signing of an agreement between the two countries in Jerusalem today.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Malielegaoi meets his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today.

Samoa PM Tuilaepa Malielegaoi meets his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem today. Photo: Supplied/ Israel government

The agreement was reached as Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi met his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Netanyahu thanked Tuilaepa for Samoa's support in international fora, including for Israel's bid to join the Asian Development Bank in 2017.

The two leaders also agreed to continue co-operation in agriculture, IT, health and energy.

Tuilaepa said Samoa was committed to strengthening bilateral ties with Israel.

"We continue to be meaningfully engaged and we see potential and benefits to our two countries. I am certain that this visa arrangement will foster more people to people linkages between our two nations."

Prime Minister Tuilaepa also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.