Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has been invited to attend a conference in Qatar next week, an official said Tuesday, in what would be the most high-profile visit by an Israeli official to the Gulf state.
Ido Aharoni, Livni's spokesman, said she has not yet decided whether to accept the invitation to the U.N.-sponsored conference on democracy. A decision was expected later Tuesday, he said.
Israel has low-level diplomatic ties with Qatar but has never sent a high-ranking minister on a public visit there.
There were no further details on the possible agenda. But officials said the visit could include discussions on the Iranian nuclear program and the fate of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas-linked militants in the Gaza Strip. The officials were not authorized to speak to the media and requested anonymity.
Qatar has good relations with Hamas and has attempted to mediate between Israel and the Islamic militant group in the past.
Officials in Qatar were not immediately available for comment due to the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
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