Netanyahu's Visits to Four Arab Countries Without Diplomatic Relations in the Past Year

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Friday that he has visited four Arab countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel in the past year. He also stated that a significant front is forming in the fight against Tehran due to the closeness between Israel and Arab countries. According to the news network 'Khadashot' and Channel 12 of Israel, Netanyahu disclosed this information on the night of February 15 to a group of Israeli journalists accompanying him on his trip to Warsaw for an upcoming Middle East conference. Among these visits, only Netanyahu's trip to Muscat five months ago, at the invitation of Sultan Qaboos of Oman, was publicly acknowledged. The Israeli Prime Minister did not reveal the names of the other three Arab countries he visited in the past year but added, 'I dream of going back to the Gulf emirates with Israeli media.' Israel has had full political relations with Egypt for 40 years and with Jordan for 25 years; Netanyahu's reference is to his travels to countries other than Egypt and Jordan. One day after the conclusion of the Warsaw conference hosted by the U.S. and attended by 60 countries, Netanyahu summarized the meeting by saying it was a success in 'breaking the taboo of relations between Israel and Arabs... Sitting and negotiating together in one room is important. Arab countries know what they are doing.' He added that Arab countries want to continue contacts and 'specific proposals were also made, which are not to be disclosed at this time.' Netanyahu confirmed that Arab governments are 'criticized by their people for being close to Israel,' but according to him, 'they stand up to these criticisms and try to prepare their people's minds, as they are aware of the threat posed by Iran and are taking action to curb Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities.' The Israeli Prime Minister stated, 'A significant front is forming in the fight against Tehran; representatives of Arab countries spoke decisively and boldly against Iran at the Warsaw conference.' He added that for Arab countries, the Palestinian issue is now 'of secondary or tertiary importance; they know that their future with a nuclear Iran is much more difficult, and that is why they want action to be taken now.' Netanyahu did not provide further details on the actions Arab countries are considering regarding Iran, but he had told Israeli journalists on Wednesday that the Warsaw talks were about 'advancing common interests with pioneering Arab countries to fight Iran.' In response to Netanyahu's remarks about 'war with Iran,' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif stated, 'We were aware of his delusions, and now everyone is aware of them.' However, Netanyahu added on Friday night that Arab countries at the Warsaw conference 'spoke with the utmost courage imaginable about Israel's right to defend itself.' His reference included comments by Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister, who, in one of the closed-door panels of the Warsaw conference, referred to Israeli airstrikes on 'Iranian targets and Iran's allies in Syria' as Israel's right to self-defense. The Israeli Prime Minister's office posted a 25-minute video on Thursday night of statements made by the foreign ministers of Bahrain and the UAE and the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs during the mentioned panel at the Warsaw conference, while Netanyahu was among the officials from the countries addressed in this panel, but shortly after, this video was removed. The statements of all three senior officials from the emirates closely resembled the Israeli government's positions against the policies and regional actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran; the UAE Foreign Minister said regarding Israeli attacks in Syria, 'When a country challenges you, it is your natural right to defend yourself.' Netanyahu confirmed for the second time this week that the attack last Sunday night in Quneitra, Syria, was carried out by Israel, but in a more detailed explanation, he said that 'positions of Hezbollah and Iran right on the border' were targeted in the attack. Iran or Syria did not respond to reports from Syrian opposition claiming the death of two IRGC officers and the injury of six others in the Israeli attack last Sunday night.