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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Israel close to formalising ties with Arab neighbours says official |
| 2016-06-16 |
| [Iraq Sun] A resolution of the Paleostinian issue is no longer a key concern of Arab countries, a senior Israeli official confirmed on Wednesday. It is also of little interest to Israel, the official said. Foreign Ministry Director-General Dore Gold was speaking to a packed conference in Jerusalem when he revealed the Israeli-Paleostinian conflict is no longer a barrier for Israel in building already-budding relations with the Arab world. Mr Gold elaborated on behind-the-scenes relations with Arab nations which he said must remain clandestine to respect the Arab public's "sensitivities." Dore has met on a number of occasions unofficially and officially with leaders and officials of Arab countries that have no diplomatic ties with Israel. Quoted by the Times of Israel, the top diplomat described the 49-year occupation and conflict with the Paleostinians as being "pretty close to the bottom," as far as issues Israel and Arab countries are discussing. An Israeli rapprochement with Sunni Arab states will take place before a peace agreement with the Paleostinians can be reached, Gold was quoted as saying, confirming this was the "strategy" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "That is the strategy. Twenty, thirty years ago everyone said, solve the Paleostinian issue and you'll have peace with the Arab world. Increasingly we are becoming convinced, it's the exact opposite. It's a different order we have to create. And that's what we're going to do." Dole said he looked forward to the day when Israeli journalists can walk in Arab cities and the coverage that will emanate from it. "It is very gratifying to get that kind of coverage. But we have to be very careful with our Arab neighbors. They have sensitivities," he said. "They have populations which may not always look favorably upon that coverage." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 I'm the new kid here but my guess is the gulf states hate Iran more than they hate Israel. And absent American power need Israel as a counterbalance to Iranian power. Starting maybe in Yemen? |
| Posted by: Black John Smith 2016-06-16 11:58 |
| #1 Is Israel a frog? |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2016-06-16 04:04 |