Tel Aviv29 minutes ago
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has said that at least seven Muslim countries will recognize Israel after diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia are restored. This will be a new type of peace agreement. Speaking to the Israeli newspaper ‘Jerusalem Post’, Cohen admitted that talks between Saudi Arabia and Israel are ongoing and there are some things that cannot be said at the moment.
Cohen’s statement is significant in several ways, as last week, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) openly admitted in an interview with Fox News Channel that talks with Israel are very close to being completed.
Biden and the Saudi crown prince did not initially have a good relationship, but the two leaders met warmly during the G-20 summit in New Delhi. The two even avoided shaking hands in Jeddah last year. This picture is from last year.
Biden and the Saudi crown prince did not initially have a good relationship, but the two leaders met warmly during the G-20 summit in New Delhi. The two even avoided shaking hands in Jeddah last year. This picture is from last year.
If relations with Saudi improve, everything will be fine
- Recently Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech at the UN General Assembly and during this he specifically mentioned the peace agreement in the Middle East. Earlier MBS’s statement and now Eli Cohen’s statement gives a clear indication of the diplomacy going on behind the scenes. However, the US has not yet commented on the new development.
- According to Israel’s foreign minister, peace with Saudi Arabia means restoration of peace and good relations with the entire Muslim world. Therefore, if peace is restored between Saudi and Israel, it will be the most important step towards good relations with the entire Muslim world and the whole world will benefit from it.
- Cohen said – US President Joe Biden wants to completely change the situation in the Middle East. This is an election year in America too. Netanyahu himself has pointed in this direction. In fact, Saudi Arabia has so far been Israel’s biggest adversary on the issue of Palestine. Countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco have established diplomatic and trade relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords several years ago.
What does America want?
- Two months ago, the US first openly said it wanted normal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that normal relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia are very important for US national security. It benefits America a lot. Achieving this target may still take some time.
- Blinken’s statement is of great importance in world diplomacy. The Israeli government recently admitted that talks with the Saudis are taking place under backdoor diplomacy, with the US playing a mediating role.
- The US Secretary of State assured that Palestinian issues and interests will be taken into account in this process. At that time, Salam Sejwani, an expert on Israel-Saudi affairs, said that America signed the Abraham Accord in September 2020. This was a huge success.
In September 2020, America signed the Abraham Accord. Donald Trump was the President at that time. Four Arab countries, including the UAE and Bahrain, recognized Israel. (file)
In September 2020, America signed the Abraham Accord. Donald Trump was the President at that time. Four Arab countries, including the UAE and Bahrain, recognized Israel. (file)
Trump’s breakthrough was the Abraham Accords
- US Secretary of State Blinken assured that Palestinian issues and interests will be taken into account in the process of establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. Salam Sejwani, an expert on Israel-Saudi affairs, said – America signed the Abraham Accord in September 2020. This was a huge success.
- Donald Trump was the President at the time of Abraham Accord. At that time UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan recognized Israel. Today, defense and trade relations between Israel and the UAE are growing rapidly.
- The US wants Saudi Arabia to join the I2U2 group as well. Currently this group includes US, UAE, Israel and India. The group name is formed by taking the first alphabet of the names of these countries.
- Recently, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said that it is very likely that diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia will be restored within 6 months. News broke last week that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently spoken twice with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.