Netanyahu: Israel is an ally of Arab countries against Iran and ISIS

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that many Arab countries now view Israel not as an enemy but as an ally in the face of Iran and ISIS. He made these remarks on Friday, April 1, during a meeting in Jerusalem with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who was visiting Israel. According to Netanyahu, Israel plays a 'strategic role in the region and is a factor of stability.' He also told the Greek president that 'a strong Israel is a factor in preventing the influx of refugees to Europe, and if Israel did not exist, the world would be different.' In the months following the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have repeatedly expressed 'concern' over Iran's nuclear program, calling the deal a 'mistake' and suggesting that Arab countries and Israel are now in the same camp against Iran. However, this is the first time a senior Israeli official has openly identified 'many Arab countries' as allies of Israel against 'Iran.' Netanyahu recently stated that 'the time has come for Arab countries to publicly normalize relations with Israel.' Israeli officials claim that the positions of Gulf monarchies and Israel against Iran and Hezbollah have now aligned. Meanwhile, Yuval Steinitz, Israel's Energy Minister and a member of the ruling Likud party, met with Sameh Shoukry, the Egyptian Foreign Minister. According to Israeli media, the Steinitz-Shoukry meeting took place on Thursday, March 31, in Washington. It had been a long time since a ministerial-level meeting between Israeli and Egyptian officials occurred, with the last one taking place during Hosni Mubarak's regime. Reports indicate that relations between Israel and Egypt have 'warmed' in recent weeks, evidenced by the recent visit of Dori Gold, the Director General of Israel's Foreign Ministry, to Cairo. Egypt, one of the two Arab countries with full diplomatic relations with Israel, sent a new ambassador to Israel last month after years of its embassy in Tel Aviv being staffed by low-level diplomats.