Netanyahu Oman trip boosts Trump Middle East strategy

Despite regional turmoil, President Trump's great Middle East strategy to unite Israel with the Saudis and other Gulf Arab powers against Iran and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace deal is making unexpected progress away from the limelight.

The latest sign: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's unannounced trip last week to Oman, the first by an Israeli leader in more than two decades. Israel has made its way to Gulf Arab States, one another by Israeli Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev.

The flurry of diplomatic activity with Arab powers that traditionally avoid overt dealings with Israel has "been good for the optic for both Netanyahu and the Trump administration," advertising the fact that " Palestinian 'deal' before it is being launched, "said Assaf Orion, a former Israel Defense Forces General and visiting fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Mr. Netanyahu's visit to Oman, which borders Saudi Arabia and has played the role of regional mediator with Iran, may be critical to Mr. Trump's push to isolate Tehran after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. The Arab states could be behind-the-scenes pressure on the Palestinians to accept the much-anticipated peace deal being made by White House and presidential assistance Jared Kushner.

"The symbolism of what the Israelis are doing is key," said Brian Katulis, a Middle East analyst with the Center for American Progress think tank. "Tea [Netanyahu] visit signaled to Iran that Israel is still interested in developing a relationship with Iran.

The overtures have caught the attention of the regime in Tehran and hard-line Palestinian elements. An article on this week on Mr. Netanyahu's Oman visit in the conservative Iranian newspaper Kayhan, said to be close to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, carried the headline, "Arab Rulers Stabbing Palestinians in the Back." The article quoted Palestinian Hamas radical group as warning that the visit could have "serious repercussions on the Palestinians and their just cause."

By contrast, Jason Greenblatt, Mr. Trump's Middle East sent, hailed Mr. Netanyahu's trip to Twitter as a major boost to U.S. policy in the region.

Israelis, Palestinians and their neighbors, "This is a useful step for our peace and security efforts. Mr. Greenblatt tweeted.

The flurry of Israeli diplomacy may be the most relevant amidst the apparent crisis. Oct. 2 in Turkey of U.S.-based Saudi dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi.

Mr. Trump's overall strategy towards the region has depended heavily on the establishment of stronger relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. But Riyadh's reliability is a partner capable of bringing pressure to bear on the issue of allegations that Mr. Khashoggi was killed on orders from the highest levels of the Saudi royal family.

"With the Saudis seemingly sidelined, the Trump administration is now looking at Oman," said Jonathan Schanzer, a regional analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

"If things looked like they were potentially going to stall for a normalization between Israel and the Arab world, the idea is that you could have an open mind on the idea of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. "

Out in the open

Mr. Netanyahu long boasted of warming with key Arab states that have no diplomatic relations with Israel. But those ties – still largely unpopular among the Arab public

That changed Friday when the conservative Israeli leader suddenly appeared in Oman with a delegation that included his wife, his national security adviser, his foreign ministry director and the head of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency. Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

"These were important talks, both for the state of Israel and very important talks for Israel's security," Mr. Netanyahu told his Cabinet afterward. "There will be more."

As he spoke, the region was watching another subtle Israeli move. Ms. Regev, the Israeli culture minister, was in the United Arab Emirates at a party in the United States. An Israeli Cabinet Minister, tears of joy filling her eyes, was proudly singing her country's national anthem at a sports event in the heart of the Arab world.

Ms. Regev also toured the Great Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Wearing a loosely wrapped headscarf and the traditional floor-length gown known as an abaya, she was warmly welcomed by local officials.

Oman as mediator?

It remains to be seen how Oman – an anomaly among the Gulf Arab powers that also has healthy relations with Iran – is about the prospect of aligning with Israel, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia against Tehran.

But when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, and the more basic matter of recognizing Israel's existence as a legitimate nation, the Omanis seem poised to take a leadership role in the wake of Mr. Netanyahu's visit.

Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah made international headlines after describing Israel as an accepted Middle East nation.

"Israel is a state present in the region, and we all understand this," he said. "The world is also aware of this fact, and it is time for Israel to be treated the same and also bear the same obligations."

A foreign Ministry asserts that the sultanate now supports all efforts in the conduct of peacebuilding efforts and negotiations between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, and comprehensive and balanced solutions.

But the Omanis have also long themselves as defenders of Palestinian rights. Days before the Netanyahu visit, the Omani sultan Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas for a visit in Muscat, Oman's capital. Also, the Foreign Ministry claims that "the Palestinian people have suffered and are still suffering from it."

Trump's plan

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an emotional issue with the Arab public, and relations will likely remain.

Israeli forces have killed over 160 Palestinians during the months of Hamas-led protests in the Gaza strip against an Israeli blockade and a deepening humanitarian crisis. The peace process has been restored to the world by the Abbas cuttings of the United States.

The Palestinians fear the Trump administration is trying to rally support from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states in order to accept a peace plan that falls short of their demands.

Mr. Schanzer said Mr. Kushner has been central to the U.S. push to foster closer relations between Israel and the Gulf states – relations that may be "regional architecture."

"Kushner has ended up being the guy who's done outreaching with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and with the other Gulf Arab states to try and advance this regional architecture idea, and it started with this Trump Israel-Palestine peace plan as well , "Mr. Schanzer said.

Although the Trump administration has made several statements, it has stated that the strategy has been used to marginalize Palestinian positions and to obtain the approval of the Palestinian Authority. something different than they had been demanding before. "

"But this would also involve getting the Arab states, along with the U.S. and others, to push for more prosperity and economic incentives for the Palestinians," said Mr. Schanzer. "So the idea is to get to the Gulf of Arab States and to help the Palestinians along and make them willing to accept a little less on the political front".

Some analysts say the Omanis are uniquely tuned to play a go-between role, boasting a long track record of navigating divisive fires in a turbulent region. At a minimum, Sultan Qaboos appears to be ushering in an era in which Gulf Arab powers can be more open about their relations with Israel.

"One of the obstacles to progress with the Palestinians has been their notion that they can hold Israeli relations with others in the hostage region," Mr. Orion, the former Israeli General, told The Washington Times. "At least some Arab states, while moving cautiously, are saying: 'We do not want our policy to be held hostage. Maybe we do not want to go totally with it, but we are having relations with Israel, which may even help its relations with the Palestinians. "