Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has recently stated that “six or seven” Muslim countries could potentially establish peace agreements with Israel, following a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia. The remarks were made during an interview with Kan News after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
Cohen emphasized the significance of peace with Saudi Arabia, stating that it would signify peace with the broader Muslim world. He further added that he has personally met with several Muslim countries, located in Africa and Asia, that have expressed interest in establishing peaceful relations with Israel. However, Cohen did not disclose the identities of these countries, indicating that only some of them have directly engaged in conversations with him.
President Joe Biden is aiming to bring about significant changes in the Middle East and achieve a diplomatic victory by securing recognition of Israel from Saudi Arabia. During Netanyahu’s address at the UNGA, he expressed optimism about the potential peace agreement with Saudi Arabia and how it could reshape the region under Biden’s leadership. However, there have been calls from Riyadh and Washington to involve the Palestinians in these diplomatic efforts. Netanyahu, on the other hand, stated that the Palestinians should not have the power to veto regional peace deals.
Last week, Netanyahu, during his meeting with President Biden in New York, highlighted the possibility of a groundbreaking US-backed agreement to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, traditionally supportive of the Palestinian cause, has consistently maintained that it would require the establishment of a Palestinian state before considering normalization with Israel. Washington has been exerting pressure on its long-standing ally, Saudi Arabia, to sign a normalization deal with Israel, which would be a significant diplomatic achievement in the region. This follows similar agreements known as the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.
Additional reporting from AFP and Reuters