Palestinian official names the 5 Muslim countries seeking ties with Israel

Scrambling to minimize the importance of historic move by Arab states to align with Israel, Palestinian Social Affairs Minister says, “The attitude that there can be peace with the Arabs without peace with the Palestinians is an illusion.”

By LAHAV HARKOV, REUTERS

 

Israel is in talks with several Arab and Muslim countries to normalize ties, Palestinian Authority Social Affairs Minister Ahmed Majdalani told KAN Radio Thursday.

Oman, Sudan, Comoros, Djibouti and Mauritania are engaged in normalization discussions with Israel, he said.

L-R- Bahraini FM Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, PM Benjamin Netanyhau, U.S. President Donald Trump and Emirati FM Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the White House signing ceremony – Photo: AFP

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said five more countries plan to establish diplomatic relations with Israel soon, following the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Oman and Sudan have been mentioned as serious possibilities for ties with Israel in recent weeks.

“The attitude that there can be peace with the Arabs without peace with the Palestinians is an illusion,” Majdalani said.

The Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment on the list of countries.

UAE Minister of State for Food Security Maryam al-Muhairi on Thursday called Agriculture Minister Alon Schuster to wish the citizens of Israel a happy Rosh Hashanah.

The ministers had spoken before, and their ministries intend to cooperate on agriculture in the desert, using Israel’s expertise.

Also Thursday, Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir and his Bahraini counterpart, Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani, spoke by phone. They discussed possible ventures, including three-way travel packages involving the United Arab Emirates, an Israeli statement said.

In an interview with an Emirati newspaper, Zamir said he hopes tourism between Israel and the UAE could start early next year.

Etihad Airways is the second-largest airline and flag carrier of the UAE, after Emirates. Its head office is in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi, near Abu Dhabi’s International Airport. Etihad Airways Airbus A320-200 – Photo: Wikimedia/Anna Zvereva

“Agreements to do with visas and tourism are at an advanced stage, and the two sides are expected to reach a deal soon,” Al-Ittihad newspaper quoted Zamir as saying.

Emirates Flight Catering said it had signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a dedicated production facility, Kosher Arabia, for kosher food at its premises in the UAE with production beginning in January.

 

View original The Jerusalem Post publication at:
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/are-these-the-five-countries-on-the-way-to-ties-with-israel-642626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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