(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman spoke a short time ago with Nepal Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey. FM Liberman expressed Israel's deep sorrow at the tragedy which has struck Nepal and conveyed the condolences of the Israeli people for the heavy loss of life.

FM Liberman told FM Pandey that Israel is extending aid to Nepal through the establishment of a field hospital, search and rescue teams, and shipments of medical and humanitarian aid, and will continue to assist in any way it can. FM Panday thanked Liberman, and noted that the Nepalese people deeply appreciate the aid being sent from Israel.

FM Liberman in turn thanked FM Pandey for the Nepalese authorities' assistance in sending helicopters to evacuate Israelis stranded in remote areas of Nepal. FM Panday acceded to FM Liberman's request for permission to use helicopters Israel has chartered in India and China to extricate other Israelis from remote areas.