BICOM

What happened: Defence Minister Benny Gantz said yesterday that Israel intends to develop a “special security arrangement” with Gulf Arab allies, who share common concerns over Iran.

• Gantz clarified, “I don’t think it’s going to be a defence pact but we are going to develop defence relations with every country that we have relations with.”
• Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has reportedly discussed the initiative with the foreign ministers of the UAE and Bahrain.
• In parallel, Ashkenazi outlined the government’s approach to the US administration over Iran. He told Israeli diplomats: “There is a decision by a small forum constituting of the prime minister, the defence minister, foreign minister and the heads of the defence establishment to enter a dialogue with them in a non-oppositional manner, discuss Israeli interests and how to forge a great agreement that will safeguard Israeli and regional interests and prevent a nuclear Iran. Our policy is to exhaust this dialogue in person and to professionally converse with the Americans as allies.”
• Ashkenazi emphasised Israel’s positive working relations with the Biden administration and his close contact with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
• Yesterday Ashkenazi met Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi at the Allenby Border Crossing between the West Bank and Jordan. The pair discussed promoting cooperation and economic and civil issues involving the Palestinians. This was their third such meeting at Allenby Crossing.
• Also yesterday, Prime Minister Netanyahu met the first UAE Ambassador to Israel, Mohammed Al Khaja.  Netanyahu congratulated him on his arrival in Israel. “We’re changing the Middle East. We’re changing the world.”

Context: On Monday President Reuven Rivlin received the diplomatic credentials from the first UAE Ambassador. At the ceremony Rivlin said: “Treaties are signed by leaders, but real, sustained peace is made people to people, face to face. There are so many things we can do together, Israelis and Emiratis, to advance our peoples and the whole Middle East, to a time of regional cooperation, mutual respect, prosperity and peace.”

• As part of the Abraham Accords signed last year, Israel consented to the US selling the advanced F-35 fighter jets to the UAE. Until then, the US had agreed not to share advanced military hardware so as to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.
• In return, Israel is hoping to receive other advanced military equipment from the US. According to Israeli media reports, Israel is looking to receive the latest refuelling planes, KC-46, that are only entering operational service in the US Air Force this year. These advanced planes give combat jets a longer range and more time over distant targets.
• Alongside the UAE and Bahrain, Israel has covert relations with Saudi Arabia. In November Prime Minister Netanyahu secretly flew to Neom to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.  Senior Israeli sources have described a normalisation agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia as “oven ready”.
• In addition, earlier this week Foreign Minister Ashkenazi spoke with Omani Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi. Ashkenazi said: “Views were exchanged on a number of issues of common interest, as well as the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region.”

Looking forward: Ashkenazi has reiterated that he is confident more Arab countries would soon normalise relations with Israel. “It’s not a question of if, but under what condition” he said.

• Following the positive momentum of the Abraham Accords, Ashkenazi is also keen to help the facilitation of commercial and business relationships with both Jordan and Egypt.
• President Rivlin has extended an invitation to UAE’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed to make a state visit to Israel.