While some Arab leaders reject the possibility of any ties with Israel, others have long considered an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement a prerequisite for any warming of ties. Israel’s warming ties with the Emirates mark a broader erosion of the long-standing Arab antipathy toward Israel and support for the Palestinians. Egypt was the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan 1994, but relations with other Arab countries remained cold and no other countries followed suit. Persian Gulf countries such as the Emirates and Saudi Arabia have come to see Iran as a primary threat to regional stability and recognised Israel as a potential partner in confronting it. That led to a gradual ramping up of covert dealings with Israel among Gulf states on issues including security, technology, agriculture and most recently health.

Source: bd News24 June 25, 2020 19:52 UTC