Mike Pompeo is the primary high-level Western official to satisfy Sultan Haitham (File)
Muscat, Oman:
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo headed residence Thursday after a Center East tour aimed toward encouraging Arab international locations to comply with the UAE’s transfer and normalise relations with Israel.
Nonetheless, stops in Bahrain, Oman and Sudan failed to supply any public commitments to recognise the Jewish state, after the landmark US-brokered cope with the United Arab Emirates introduced earlier this month.
“Met right now with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al-Stated on the significance of constructing regional peace, stability, and prosperity by a united Gulf Cooperation Council,” Pompeo tweeted as he left Oman, the final cease on his itinerary.
“Grateful for our sturdy safety partnership and financial ties.”
The official Oman Information Company mentioned that “features of the prevailing bilateral cooperation between the sultanate and the US had been reviewed inside the framework of the sturdy relations that bind them,” however made no reference to relations with Israel.
Pompeo was the primary high-level Western official to satisfy Sultan Haitham, who succeeded Sultan Qaboos on his demise in January after some 5 a long time in energy.
Oman has lengthy had dialogue with Israel and welcomed the UAE’s August 13 announcement that it had normalised ties, whereas reaffirming its help for the Palestinians.
The US chief diplomat had mentioned he was hopeful different nations would comply with the UAE, which turned solely the third Arab nation to ascertain relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.
Nonetheless, Sudan’s transitional authorities on Tuesday dashed hopes for a speedy breakthrough, saying it has “no mandate” to take such a weighty step.
And Bahrain echoed the feelings of its ally, regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, that an accord with Israel wouldn’t materialise with out the institution of an impartial Palestinian state.
An anti-climax?
“After American and Israeli officers spent days hyping the prospect that different Arab international locations would quickly comply with the UAE in normalising relations with Israel, the shortage of any extra public commitments throughout Secretary Pompeo’s regional tour seems to be like an anti-climax,” Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on International Relations advised AFP.
Whereas in Israel on the primary cease of the tour, Pompeo made a symbolic video in Jerusalem for the Republican Nationwide Conference during which he touted the Trump administration’s help for the Jewish state.
The problem will possible function prominently in campaigning for the US presidential election in November.
The UAE’s controversial recognition of Israel has been met with criticism from some components of the Arab world, with the Palestinian management condemning it as a “stab within the again”. Even US allies within the area have been cautious of their response.
For Saudi Arabia, not solely would a proper recognition of Israel be seen by Palestinians and their supporters as a betrayal of their trigger, it may additionally harm the dominion’s picture because the chief of the Islamic world.
Throughout a quick cease within the UAE on Wednesday, Pompeo held talks with International Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and nationwide safety adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and congratulated them “on the monumental achievement” of the Israel deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied studies that the UAE deal hinges on the sale of US F-35 stealth fighter jets to the Emirates, saying he opposes a transfer that would scale back Israel’s strategic edge within the area.
Lovatt mentioned that “it’s potential that a lack of readability on the US dedication to ship F-35s to the UAE may have additionally performed an element in slowing a second wave of normalisation”.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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