Benjamin Netanyahu
Photographer: Abir Sultan / AFP / Getty Images
Photographer: Abir Sultan / AFP / Getty Images
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to create a buzz ahead of further normalization movements in the Middle East took another hit when Qatar denied that it was pursuing such a plan.
Netanyahu said last week that four countries were on track to establish diplomatic relations with his country, and his intelligence minister later identified Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Niger as prospective partners.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said on Saturday that normalization depended on resolving Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. A Qatari foreign ministry official said Sunday that the same condition applies to his country. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the diplomatic strategy.
Netanyahu’s attempt to mix diplomacy with election politics provoked a strong reaction from the United Arab Emirates, which in August became the first Gulf Arab nation to agree to normalize ties with Israel. Netanyahu planned a March 11 visit to Abu Dhabi, less than two weeks before Israel’s election. After being canceled due to a conspiracy with Jordan, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said his country “would not be a part of any internal election in Israel, now or ever.”
UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Sultan Al Jaber tempered expectations over Netanyahu’s claim this month that the country would invest $ 10 billion in Israeli projects, saying that studies were at an early stage and that any investments’ would be commercially driven and not politically associated. . ”