Oman FM: We want Israel to feel that there are no threats to its future

Alawi added that he believes that "we Arabs must . . . try to ease those fears that Israel has through initiatives and real deals between us and Israel."

APRIL 7, 2019 11:26

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah (L) in Warsaw, February 13th, 2019 (photo credit: AMOS BEN-GERSHOM/GPO) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and Omani Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah (L) in Warsaw, February 13th, 2019

(photo credit: AMOS BEN-GERSHOM/GPO)

"We want Israel themselves to feel that there are no threats to their future," Oman's Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi said at the World Economic Forum in Jordan on Saturday, according to Arutz Sheva.

"The West has offered Israel political, economic and military support and it now holds all the means of power," Alawi said, emphasizing, though, that "despite that, it fears for its future as a non-Arab country surrounded by 400 million Arabs."

Alawi added that he believes that "we Arabs must . . . try to ease those fears that Israel has through initiatives and real deals between us and Israel."

Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi dismissed Alawi's comments, stating that it is the "occupation" which causes Israel's problems, according to World Israel News.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Alawi during a summit in Warsaw in February.

The Omani Foreign Minister has a history of Israel advocacy. In a speech given at the IISS Manama Dialogue security summit in Bahrain, Alawi said that "Israel is a state present in the region, and we all understand this." Alawi stressed that "maybe it is time for Israel to be treated the same [as other states] and to also bear the same obligations."

Last October, Netanyahu visited Oman to discuss regional issues after being invited by the country's leader, Sultan Sayyid Qaboos bin Said Al Said.

Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.