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Philippines' Duterte Visit Sparks Debate over Israel's Diplomacy
(Wall Street Journal) Felicia Schwartz and Dov Lieber - Philippines populist strongman President Rodrigo Duterte arrived in Israel Sunday night, setting off a debate over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's outreach. The prime minister's allies say there is nothing unusual about opening new markets for Israeli exports and making new friends who can help defend Israel at the UN. "If you take a few steps back, you realize that many countries that seem to be controversial are also countries that have good ties with Britain, France, all the European states," said Dore Gold, president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. "Somehow when Israel tries to diversify its foreign-policy portfolio it stands out, but it's really not that exceptional." The Philippines abstained from voting on a resolution in December 2017 criticizing the U.S. decision to declare Jerusalem Israel's capital.