Netanyahu Welcomes Closer Relations with Arab States: ‘The Time Has Come for Normalization and Peace’

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday stated that he “welcomes the closer relations between Israel and many Arab states” and that “the time has come for normalization and peace.”

Netanyahu tweeted the statement both in English and in Arabic, aiming his message towards the Arab world.

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Netanyahu retweeted a tweet by Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in which he shared an article from the British Spectator, titled “Islam’s reformation: an Arab-Israeli alliance is taking shape in the Middle East.” The article describes the strengthening relations between Israel and some Arab states.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz thanked bin Zayed and said that “now is a good time to advance the historic non-belligerency and economic cooperation agreements between Israel and the Arab Gulf countries.”

Israel’s ties with several Arab countries have significantly advanced in recent years, openly and covertly, as shared strategic interests, and primarily confronting Iran’s advent in the region, have brought both sides to the same table.

Katz in July attended a UN’s Climate Summit in Abu Dhabi, during which he met a high-ranking United Arab Emirates (UAE) official. This was the first official visit by an Israeli minister to the Arab country.

He visited Oman in November 2018, and his trip came two weeks after Netanyahu visited the country and met with its ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said. It was the first trip made by an Israeli prime minister since Shimon Peres in 1996.

In October, Katz revealed that Israel is in the process of working on a non-aggression pact with several Arab states in the Middle East to face the common threat emanating from Iran.