“We are in a process of normalization with the Arab world,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
By World Israel News Staff
“What is happening at the moment is that we are in a process of normalization with the Arab world without progress in the diplomatic process with the Palestinians,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a conference of ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem on Sunday evening.
“A great change has been created here. The Arab world needs technology and innovation. It needs water, electricity, medical care and high-tech. There is a growing connection between Israeli companies and the Arab world,” Netanyahu said.
“The expectation was that progress or a breakthrough with the Palestinians would open links for us with the Arab world. This would have been true if it had happened,” he noted.
“It seemed as if it was about to happen with the Oslo process but what happened was that the Arab refusal, together with the terrorism of the intifada, cost us almost 2,000 lives and wiped out this hope, which was shelved under Oslo governments.”
Without Palestinians
“Today we are going there without the Palestinians being involved and it is much stronger because it does not depend on their caprices. The Arab states are looking for links with the strong. Cultivating strengths gives us diplomatic power,” Netanyahu said.
“It is more likely that it will work in reverse. Links with the Arab world will bring normalization and create the conditions for developing links with the Palestinians,” he concluded.
Israel has made headlines in recent months for linking up with Muslim states. In October, Netanyahu made a surprise visit to the Gulf state of Oman. This month Netanyahu said that the sultan of Oman has agreed to allow Israeli El Al flights to pass through Oman air space.
In November, the president of the Republic of Chad made a historic, first-ever visit to Israel.