Israel's diplomatic outreach to the UAE gained widespread international attention, as the UAE monarchy has officially refused to recognize Israel's right to exist. Israel's diplomatic overtures towards Abu Dhabi have been followed by other conciliatory gestures towards the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Economic and Security Cooperation Between Israel and the GCCThe declining importance of the Palestinian conflict as a wedge issue between Israel and the GCC has caused the Gulf monarchies to engage with Israel in an increasingly pragmatic way. Even though the GCC bloc officially regards Israel as a security threat, the Gulf monarchies have greatly expanded their defence and intelligence cooperation with the Israeli military. Israel supported Egypt's handover of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia in April 2016.

Source: Huffington Post September 12, 2016 21:45 UTC