Israel-Arab alliance 'deters' Iran: Israeli FM Lapid
The Hindu
Talks involving U.S. Secretary of State and Arab leaders under way in Israel
The deepening alliance between Israel and several Arab states "intimidates and deters" Iran, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said Monday as he hosted an unprecedented meeting with four Arab Foreign Ministers.
The talks in Israel's Negev desert, joined by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, came as signals mount that a 2015 agreement on Iran's nuclear programme — opposed by Israel and several Arab states — will soon be restored.
Mr. Lapid made the comments alongside the top diplomats of the US as well as the United Arab Emirates, Morocco and Bahrain — which established full ties with Israel in 2020 — and Egypt, which recognised Israel in 1979.
"This new architecture, the shared capabilities we are building, intimidates and deters our common enemies -- first and foremost Iran and its proxies," Mr. Lapid said.
"They certainly have something to fear."
UAE and Bahrain formed ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords, brokered by former US president Donald Trump. Morocco then re-established relations with Israel under a separate Trump-brokered agreement.
Israeli leaders have argued that the normalisations highlight a changed West Asia, where Arab leaders are no longer compelled to keep a distance from Israel so long as its conflict with the Palestinians remains unsolved.
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