Gulf States Offer Better Relations with ‘Israel’

Local Editor

Arab Gulf states offered to normalize relations with ‘Israel' in exchange for a partial freeze on ‘Israeli' settlement construction in the West Bank, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.

According to the report, officials from Arab Gulf states told top American officials that they would allow overflight rights to ‘Israel', establish direct telecommunications and lift restrictions on trade with the entity, in return for a promise from Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would return to the negotiating table with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Preconditions for returning to peace talks could include freezing ‘Israeli' settlement construction and opening up trade access to the Gaza Strip, according the Wall Street Journal.

The report came just days ahead of Trump's first official visit to the region.

Saudi King Salman on Monday expressed hope for a "historic" summit to be held Sunday between Arab and Muslim nations and US President Donald Trump that he hoped would enhance ties and promote tolerance.

The summit will be one of three forums held during a visit by Trump, who is making Saudi Arabia his first overseas stop since assuming office in January.

Salman told a cabinet meeting in the Red Sea city of Jeddah that the meeting "comes in light of the challenges and sensitive situations that the world is going through".

According to the official Saudi Press Agency, "he expressed his hope that this historic summit will establish a new partnership in the face of extremism and terrorism and spreading the values of tolerance and coexistence" while enhancing security.

Trump has frequently been accused of fueling Islamophobia but aides described his decision to visit Saudi Arabia as an effort to reset relations with the Muslim world.

The Trump administration is considering holding a groundbreaking conference between the ‘Israeli' prime minister, the Palestinian Authority president, and respective Gulf Arab leaders together on the same stage, sources told the Jerusalem Post last month.

Source: WSJ, Edited by website team