by Seth Frantzman
Intelligence in addition to Transportation Minister State of Israel Katz pushed for cooperation betwixt State of Israel in addition to the Gulf states inwards a oral communication inwards Sultanate of Oman on Nov 7. “In my view, cooperation betwixt State of Israel in addition to the Gulf states tin in addition to should survive expanded,” he said. “Israel too has a lot to offering when it comes to H2O desalination in addition to irrigation, agriculture in addition to medicine.”
The trip bookended several high profile visits to the Gulf yesteryear Israeli officials. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Sultanate of Oman inwards piece of cake October. Culture in addition to Sport Minister Miri Regev in addition to Communications Minister Ayoub Kara too traveled to the United Arab Emirates, ane to attend a sporting resultant in addition to some other for a conference.
The visits stand upward for a pregnant breakthrough inwards connections betwixt State of Israel the Gulf states. Since the 1990s, when State of Israel signed the Oslo Accords in addition to made peace amongst Jordan, at that topographic point were increasing ties to several Gulf countries. This included the opening of merchandise offices. However, relations became frozen during the Second Intifada (2000-2005).
In the final decade, a thaw has taken place. Katz said during his see that his trip in addition to others were “part of a wider tendency of strengthening ties betwixt State of Israel in addition to the Gulf countries based on mutual interests in addition to a mutual recognition of the potential benefits for both sides, both inwards damage of contending amongst mutual challenges in addition to threats, equally good equally opportunities.”
The shipping minister’s see to Sultanate of Oman coincided amongst his discussions nearly a rail link or “tracks of regional peace” that could ane solar daytime foresee linking State of Israel amongst the remainder of the Arab region. He discussed the innovation at the IRU Congress that met inwards Muscat from Nov vi to 8.
Currently, State of Israel has relations amongst Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in addition to Egypt. Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has been seeking to expand its really express rail network; the Gulf states in addition to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are all laying plans for major infrastructure projects involving rail in addition to transportation. In the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Rail is planning a 1,200-km. business that volition eventually accomplish the Saudi Arabian edge in addition to Oman. H5N1 2,400-km. business would link Riyadh to Al-Haditha on the Jordanian border. It would plough over Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to a greater extent than or less 3,900 km. of track.
OMAN, where Katz traveled, has been increasing its rail network inwards recent years. In 2015, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said signed off on 2 to a greater extent than phases of a multi-phase rail network. The commencement stage links Al Buraimi on the UAE edge amongst the port of Sohar. H5N1 minute stage would stretch downwardly to Ibri in addition to some other stage would larn downwardly to the port of Al Duqm. Eventually, it could survive 2,135 km. long. With Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan equally a regional shipping hub, State of Israel could survive hooked upward to a powerful network of regional states. This would too assistance the Palestinian economy. “It volition employ an additional merchandise road inwards the region, which is shorter, faster in addition to cheaper,” Katz said.
With Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pioneering major economical reforms, called Vision 2030, the part is on the verge of an economical revolution later on years of stagnation. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is ane of the largest economies inwards the region, but it wants to diversify in addition to is laying plans for nuclear energy, investments inwards desalination in addition to other projects. State of Israel in addition to the UAE are perfectly positioned, amongst roughly the same GDP, to employ goodness in addition to contribute to this regional awakening.
Eight years since the Arab Spring began at the destination of 2010, the Middle East is notwithstanding recovering from the instability in addition to terrorism that became the nighttime side of the spring. Out of the chaos in addition to instability came the extremism of Islamic State. The defeat of ISIS has instantly led to a novel struggle yesteryear Islamic Republic of Iran in addition to its adversaries for regional hegemony. All of this has overshadowed Israel’s of import role inwards regional safety in addition to relationships. Katz’s see shows that attitudes are changing.
“This is the commencement fourth dimension an Israeli government minister has been formally invited to participate inwards an international conference inwards Oman,” his purpose noted. He described Qaboos equally an experienced in addition to impressive leader.
“I was moved to have such a warm welcome inwards Sultanate of Oman equally an Israeli government minister in addition to induce got percentage inwards Oman’s traditional sword dance.”
It is a sign of Israel’s growing strength.
Katz’s vision of a network of rail links may induce got decades to come upward to fruition, but it is an of import symbol of the means the part may tendency towards stability. H5N1 stable Middle East, equally has been illustrated yesteryear the final decades of conflict, is essential for global stability.
Seth J. Frantzman spent 3 years inwards Republic of Iraq in addition to other countries inwards the part researching the state of war on terror in addition to Islamic State. He is executive manager of the Middle East Center for Reporting in addition to Analysis. H5N1 old assistant professor of American Studies at Al-Quds University, he covers the Middle East for The Jerusalem Post in addition to is a writing boyfriend at
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