Oman offers help in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, but denies mediator role
Updated 18:22, 30-Oct-2018
CGTN
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Oman is offering ideas to help Israelis and Palestinians to come together but is not acting as mediator, Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, the sultanate's minister responsible for foreign affairs, said on Saturday.
Oman relies on the US and efforts by US President Donald Trump in working toward this "deal of the century" (Middle East peace), Alawi bin Abdullah told a security summit in Bahrain a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Oman.
Bahrain's foreign minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa voiced support for Oman over the sultanate's role in trying to secure Israeli-Palestinian peace, while Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said the kingdom believes the key to normalizing relations with Israel was the peace process.
Netanyahu's rare visit to Oman came days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas paid a three-day visit to the Gulf country and also met Omani leader Sultan Qaboos.
Netanyahu was accompanied on Friday by senior officials, including the head of the Mossad intelligence agency and his national security adviser.
Bin Alawi said, "Israel is a state present in the region, and we all understand this, the world is also aware of this fact and maybe it is time for Israel to be treated the same and also bear the same obligations."
(Top image: Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said (L) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter's unannounced visit to the Gulf country, October 26, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Reuters