Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday named Yisrael Katz interim foreign minister, who during an interview with ‘i24NEWS’ talked about his plans to "strengthen Jerusalem's status in the world.”

Katz explained that he wants to persuade the US to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and further strengthen Israel's relations with neighboring countries.

He added that he is working toward partial autonomy for Palestinians under foreign sovereignty, but that the current Palestinian leadership does not offer Israel the security it needs in a future agreement.

He also spoke of ideas such as building an island off the Gaza Strip to provide the blockaded Palestinian enclave with infrastructure such as electricity and clean water.

Katz also promoted a plan for a railway linking Gulf states to the Mediterranean via Israel as part of a bid to normalize relations with Arab countries that currently do not have formal ties with Israel.

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