And yet, no Arab State has voiced any displeasure, not publicly, and not even through diplomatic back-channels. West Asian diplomats quizzed by my colleagues at Hindustan Times have shrugged off the idea of Modi’s visit as a matter of realpolitik. Read moreThis is especially true in Riyadh and Manama, where the threat of Iran is felt most keenly. But Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and most other Arab states have no formal relations with Israel: Most of them don’t even acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. So, if Modi does hear from Arab rulers before his visit to Israel, it may very well be in the form of requests to convey cautious felicitations.

Source: Hindustan Times March 28, 2017 06:00 UTC