Tel Aviv is in talks with “many” Arab nations that are “in line” to establish relations with Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed in the wake of the UAE having ended its economic boycott of the Jewish state.
PM Netanyahu:
There are many more unpublicized meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders who recognize that their true interests are to normalize relations with the State of Israel.
— Ofir Gendelman (@ofirgendelman) August 30, 2020
The Israeli prime minister did not name any particular Arab nations with which Israel is supposedly in talks, but said other Muslim leaders have now lined up to make peace with his country. The UAE’s decision to normalize relations with Israel has deprived Palestine of its “veto” on peace between the Jewish state and the Arab world.
“If we’d have to wait for the Palestinians, we’d have to wait forever. No longer,” he added.
The developments come after the UAE’s president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signed a decree abolishing a 1972 law banning any deals between the Emirates and Israel. The move furthers the normalization agreement mediated by the US and signed by the two nations earlier this month.
Read more: UAE-Israel Agreement: Muslim Ummah Is Divided Again
Turkey criticised the UAE Israel Deal
The deal was sharply criticized by Palestinian officials as well as by some other nations, such as Turkey, that accused Abu Dhabi of betraying the Palestinian cause in pursuit of its own interests. But Turkey itself has diplomatic relations with Israel since the very beginning of Israeli state in 1948.
Turkey under Kemalists had decided to stay away from the politics of Muslim Middle East. Arabs under the tutelage of Lawrence of Arabia – an English officer of MI-6 – had rebelled against the Ottomans during the First World War and Turks had unpleasant memories about Arabs and their political orientations.
Secular Iran under the Shah also had diplomatic relations with Israel however after the Islamic revolution of 1979 Iran broke off the relationship and turned into a sworn enemy of Israel and zionism. Turkey after the rise of AKP party has increasingly tense relations with Israel but it has not taken the step of total diplomatic breakup with the Jewish state. Turkey and Israel have substantial trade relations too.
However, the UAE apparently plans to stick to its chosen course – on Monday, the first direct flight between Israel and the UAE will carry a joint US-Israeli delegation led by Jarred Kushner and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat to the Arab state. An Israeli Defense Ministry delegation is also expected to travel to Abu Dhabi in the coming weeks.
Read more: Pompeo, Netanyahu express hope of other Arab nations forging ties with Israel
RT with additional input by GVS News Desk