Israel and Gulf states working on ‘historic pact’ to end conflict between them | World Defense

Israel and Gulf states working on ‘historic pact’ to end conflict between them

Solomon2

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TEXT OF ACCORD DRAFTED BY FOREIGN MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM
Israel and Gulf states working on ‘historic pact’ to end conflict between them
TV says FM Katz met Gulf counterparts at UN to advance ‘non-aggression’ deal as they face Iran, pledging friendly ties, cooperation, no war or incitement; Greenblatt also in loop
By TOI STAFF and RAPHAEL AHREN5 October 2019, 8:40 pm


In this photo released on July 1, 2019, Foreign Minister Israel Katz visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Courtesy Katz's office)
In this photo released on July 1, 2019, Foreign Minister Israel Katz visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Courtesy Katz's office)

Israel is reportedly negotiating with several Gulf states on a “non-aggression pact” between them as they face off against an increasingly emboldened Iran. The deal, which Channel 12 news described as potentially “historic,” aims to put an end to the state of conflict between the Gulf states and Israel, and reportedly provides for friendly relations, cooperation in a variety of fields, and no war or incitement against each other.

Advancing the Israeli initiative, Foreign Minister Israel Katz met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month with several foreign ministers from Arab Gulf states, Channel 12 news reported Saturday night.

There was no immediate comment from the Foreign Ministry.

Katz himself on September 23 tweeted that he had held talks with an unnamed counterpart from an Arab country with which Israel does not have formal relations, and said they discussed “ways to deal with the Iranian threat” and a process for boosting “civilian cooperation.”

Katz, who is leading the effort with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, agreed with his Gulf Arab interlocutors during “a series of meetings” in New York to set up working teams to take the non-aggression pact forward, the TV report said.



Foreign Minister Israel Katz and his Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa (R) pose for a photograph at the State Department in Washington on July 17, 2019. (Courtesy)

Katz presented his Gulf counterparts with a draft text of the intended pact, which was drawn up by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the TV report said. It reportedly highlights the opportunity to advance common interests in the context of the threat posed by Iran, and is drafted in accordance with principles of international law.

Katz is also reported to have discussed the intended pact with the Trump administration’s outgoing special envoy for the peace process, Jason Greenblatt.

While Israel seeks to widen its diplomatic relations with states in the region beyond its two full peace partners Egypt and Jordan, the non-aggression pact initiative stems from Israel’s recognition that full relations with the Gulf states may not be possible unless or until the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, the TV report noted. The deal would constitute a “historic” document, putting an end to the state of conflict between these Gulf states and Israel, the report said.

The draft clauses reportedly include commitments to develop “friendly relations and cooperation” in accordance with the UN charter and international law; to prevent hostility or incitement to hostility against each other; and to eschew any military or security alliance with other parties against each other.

Among other elements, the TV report said, the draft text specifies cooperation in the fight against terror, and in advancing economic interests.

Katz attended the General Assembly on behalf of Netanyahu, who remained in Israel as he seeks to negotiate a majority coalition. The prime minister had planned to attend the UN gathering and meet on the sidelines with US President Donald Trump, who had said earlier last month that he intended to discuss a possible US-Israel Mutual Defense pact.

At the UN on September 23, Katz held what he said at the time was “a first and fascinating meeting… with one of the Arab foreign ministers.”

He added: “We discussed in depth the regional realities and ways to deal with the Iranian threat, while at the same time we agreed on a process for promoting civilian cooperation between our two countries. A new and challenging reality.”

Katz, who is also intelligence minister, has previously met with senior Arab officials at least twice: In early July, he met an unnamed senior Emirati official during a visit to the Gulf city of Abu Dhabi. Later that month, he shared a photograph with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa during an event hosted by the US State Department in Washington. It marked the rare instance in which a top Arab official is publicly documented meeting a senior Israeli figure.



Foreign Minister Israel Katz delivers a speech during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Johannes EISELE / AFP)

In November 2018, Katz traveled to Oman to attend an international transport conference. “In my view cooperation between Israel and the Gulf states can and should be expanded,” he said at the time. “Israel also has a lot to offer when it comes to water desalination and irrigation, agriculture and medicine.”

In his speech at the UN last month, Katz stressed that Israel “has a clear policy to advance ties, and normalization with the Arab Gulf States.

“We have no conflict with the Gulf states, and we have common interests in the field of security against the Iranian threat as well as in developing many joint civilian initiatives,” he said.

“Israel has a lot of capabilities in many areas, including hi-tech, innovation, agriculture and water technology, which can help the Gulf states, and the Gulf states have a lot of capabilities that can help Israel as well,” he noted. “I hope that this cooperation will lead to the signing of peace agreements between our countries, as we did with Egypt and Jordan.”

In August, Katz said it was realistic to expect formal peace deals with moderate Sunni Gulf states within a few years.
 

Scorpion

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Gulf States have no issue with Israel if the later agrees to abide the 1967 border agreement. I don't know why is it hard for Israel to do so? Did not Saudi Arabia propose Arab peace initiative? Why is Israel not willing to at least negotiate with its neighbor for the greater good of the region?
 

Falcon29

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First of all, this just shows you Israel faces no existential threat from Iran and is looking to gain major political achievements by convincing Arabs it is a partner against Iran only if they recognize it and ditch the Arab peace initiative. US politicians are also trying to push Gulf Arabs into this route.

It isn't true that Arabs are receptive to it. Although Israeli Foreign Ministry will keep 'leaking' such stuff to embarrass Gulf Arabs and Saudi's and reiterate that they don't want peace with the Palestinians.

Meanwhile those Arabs actually face existential threat from Iran(unlike Israel) and they will not gain anything from Israel as Israel's economy cannot sustain long term war nor will Israeli military come to aid of Arab states. It just wants to seek recognition for annexation of West Bank and after that Arabs will continue to be under mercy of Iran and its allies.
 

Counter-Errorist

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First of all, this just shows you Israel faces no existential threat from Iran and is looking to gain major political achievements by convincing Arabs it is a partner against Iran only if they recognize it and ditch the Arab peace initiative. US politicians are also trying to push Gulf Arabs into this route.

It isn't true that Arabs are receptive to it. Although Israeli Foreign Ministry will keep 'leaking' such stuff to embarrass Gulf Arabs and Saudi's and reiterate that they don't want peace with the Palestinians.

Meanwhile those Arabs actually face existential threat from Iran(unlike Israel) and they will not gain anything from Israel as Israel's economy cannot sustain long term war nor will Israeli military come to aid of Arab states. It just wants to seek recognition for annexation of West Bank and after that Arabs will continue to be under mercy of Iran and its allies.
This is similar to my take on this too. GCC countries have stable economies. Iran is suicidal.
The GCC cannot afford to slow down their economies for a pissing contest with Iran.

Israel is simply trying to take advantage of this fear to get GCC countries to agree against their interests.
 

Solomon2

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This is similar to my take on this too. GCC countries have stable economies. Iran is suicidal.
The GCC cannot afford to slow down their economies for a pissing contest with Iran.
Israel is simply trying to take advantage of this fear to get GCC countries to agree against their interests.
Contrast:

...Despite the fact that a number of Arab countries have publicly rejected the Kushner initiative, there seems to exist a new reality where different Arab countries are acting towards the prospect of peace as they see fit and in line with each state’s priorities....The Gulf capitals are increasingly forming a new narrative in line with their interests that rejects the old ‘axis of resistance’ model still visible in the rhetoric of states such as Iran. And societally, there is an increasing recognition that ‘resistance’ rhetoric has been a tool used to achieve political gains irrelevant to the Arab-Israeli conflict that serve instead the leaders of the resistance and their militias -

In other words, this Arab writer argues that the GCC countries are changing policies and seek to take advantage of Israel to pursue their security interests, something that might lead to negotiations to pursue peace.

More likely imo is that it's a temporary thing, as Arab leaders pursue Jew-hate as a tool of power the moment it becomes useful once more to justify their tyranny and their captive populations then respond by sucking up to their leaders. Just look at how the Palestinian Arabs embraced Arafat after he dumped the essence of the Oslo Accords, that he would forever forego armed resistance and hatred - Oslo has been deleted from the PA's history books as of this year. Or look at Egypt, whose leaders have long pursued military cooperation and formal peace with the Jewish State while promoting intense antisemitism and anti-Zionism among the Egyptian populace. The goodwill of the Jews will be forcibly forgotten, while the hate of the Jews' enemies will be heightened through false yet profitable justifications.
 

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TEXT OF ACCORD DRAFTED BY FOREIGN MINISTRY IN JERUSALEM
Israel and Gulf states working on ‘historic pact’ to end conflict between them
TV says FM Katz met Gulf counterparts at UN to advance ‘non-aggression’ deal as they face Iran, pledging friendly ties, cooperation, no war or incitement; Greenblatt also in loop
By TOI STAFF and RAPHAEL AHREN5 October 2019, 8:40 pm


In this photo released on July 1, 2019, Foreign Minister Israel Katz visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Courtesy Katz's office)'s office)
In this photo released on July 1, 2019, Foreign Minister Israel Katz visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Courtesy Katz's office)

Israel is reportedly negotiating with several Gulf states on a “non-aggression pact” between them as they face off against an increasingly emboldened Iran. The deal, which Channel 12 news described as potentially “historic,” aims to put an end to the state of conflict between the Gulf states and Israel, and reportedly provides for friendly relations, cooperation in a variety of fields, and no war or incitement against each other.

Advancing the Israeli initiative, Foreign Minister Israel Katz met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last month with several foreign ministers from Arab Gulf states, Channel 12 news reported Saturday night.

There was no immediate comment from the Foreign Ministry.

Katz himself on September 23 tweeted that he had held talks with an unnamed counterpart from an Arab country with which Israel does not have formal relations, and said they discussed “ways to deal with the Iranian threat” and a process for boosting “civilian cooperation.”

Katz, who is leading the effort with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, agreed with his Gulf Arab interlocutors during “a series of meetings” in New York to set up working teams to take the non-aggression pact forward, the TV report said.



Foreign Minister Israel Katz and his Bahraini counterpart Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa (R) pose for a photograph at the State Department in Washington on July 17, 2019. (Courtesy)

Katz presented his Gulf counterparts with a draft text of the intended pact, which was drawn up by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the TV report said. It reportedly highlights the opportunity to advance common interests in the context of the threat posed by Iran, and is drafted in accordance with principles of international law.

Katz is also reported to have discussed the intended pact with the Trump administration’s outgoing special envoy for the peace process, Jason Greenblatt.

While Israel seeks to widen its diplomatic relations with states in the region beyond its two full peace partners Egypt and Jordan, the non-aggression pact initiative stems from Israel’s recognition that full relations with the Gulf states may not be possible unless or until the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, the TV report noted. The deal would constitute a “historic” document, putting an end to the state of conflict between these Gulf states and Israel, the report said.

The draft clauses reportedly include commitments to develop “friendly relations and cooperation” in accordance with the UN charter and international law; to prevent hostility or incitement to hostility against each other; and to eschew any military or security alliance with other parties against each other.

Among other elements, the TV report said, the draft text specifies cooperation in the fight against terror, and in advancing economic interests.

Katz attended the General Assembly on behalf of Netanyahu, who remained in Israel as he seeks to negotiate a majority coalition. The prime minister had planned to attend the UN gathering and meet on the sidelines with US President Donald Trump, who had said earlier last month that he intended to discuss a possible US-Israel Mutual Defense pact.

At the UN on September 23, Katz held what he said at the time was “a first and fascinating meeting… with one of the Arab foreign ministers.”

He added: “We discussed in depth the regional realities and ways to deal with the Iranian threat, while at the same time we agreed on a process for promoting civilian cooperation between our two countries. A new and challenging reality.”

Katz, who is also intelligence minister, has previously met with senior Arab officials at least twice: In early July, he met an unnamed senior Emirati official during a visit to the Gulf city of Abu Dhabi. Later that month, he shared a photograph with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa during an event hosted by the US State Department in Washington. It marked the rare instance in which a top Arab official is publicly documented meeting a senior Israeli figure.



Foreign Minister Israel Katz delivers a speech during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. (Johannes EISELE / AFP)

In November 2018, Katz traveled to Oman to attend an international transport conference. “In my view cooperation between Israel and the Gulf states can and should be expanded,” he said at the time. “Israel also has a lot to offer when it comes to water desalination and irrigation, agriculture and medicine.”

In his speech at the UN last month, Katz stressed that Israel “has a clear policy to advance ties, and normalization with the Arab Gulf States.

“We have no conflict with the Gulf states, and we have common interests in the field of security against the Iranian threat as well as in developing many joint civilian initiatives,” he said.

“Israel has a lot of capabilities in many areas, including hi-tech, innovation, agriculture and water technology, which can help the Gulf states, and the Gulf states have a lot of capabilities that can help Israel as well,” he noted. “I hope that this cooperation will lead to the signing of peace agreements between our countries, as we did with Egypt and Jordan.”

In August, Katz said it was realistic to expect formal peace deals with moderate Sunni Gulf states within a few years.
Keep your rhetoric under a tight lid, and dont post unsubstantiated BS.
 
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