US Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power is scheduled to visit Israel later this week and meet with Israeli government officials, Jewish Insider has learned. While in Israel, Power is scheduled to meet with officials from COGAT, the Israeli agency that oversees aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Ministry of Defense Policy Directorate, and the Israel Defense Forces.
Her visit is also expected to include meetings with Sigrid Kaag, the UN’s Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for the Gaza Strip.
Power last visited Israel in February. Her visit comes as the US plans to temporarily reinstall a pier that has been used to bring in additional aid to the Gaza Strip. The pier, which has been plagued with problems and faced intense scrutiny from Congress since its installation earlier this year, is set to be permanently removed once the undelivered aid has been removed from Cyprus, where it has been stored, and from the floating pier.
Under Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf is also scheduled to visit Israel this week, as part of a wider trip to the region that will take her to the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and Italy.
Brett McGurk, the White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, visited Israel on Tuesday and met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant before traveling to Qatar on Wednesday. In Doha, McGurk is scheduled to meet with Mossad director David Barnea, the head of Shabak and the IDF general in charge of hostage negotiating.
McGurk traveled to Egypt earlier this week with CIA Director Bill Burns and met with Israeli and Egyptian officials in an effort to reach a ceasefire and hostage release agreement.
Jewish Insider’s Gabby Deutch contributed to this report.
