Big boost for Israel amid ongoing Gaza conflict with Hamas, its two neighbours may join Abraham Accords, they are..., how will it...
Tel Aviv: There is good news for Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Israel's two neighbours may restore relations with it. This information has been provided by Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter. In an interview with a media house on Thursday, May 22, Leiter stated that he believes Syria and Lebanon could now join the Abraham Accords.
Importantly, both these countries could normalize relations with Israel before Saudi Arabia. This information comes at a time when protests against Israel are increasing in Western countries over the attacks in Gaza. Israel's relations with Syria and Lebanon have been strained, and it has fought wars with both of these countries in the past.
On the changed equations in Syria and Lebanon Leiter said, 'There is now no reason why we should not come to an agreement with Syria and Lebanon. We have dramatically changed the paradigm there. I am very excited about the possibility of an Abraham agreement with Syria and Lebanon, and it can actually happen before with Saudi Arabia.'
Leiter also mentioned that Saudi Arabia was considering joining the agreement in 2019. He said, they were not far off. If President Trump had remained in office after 2020, we would have reached the point of full normalization with Saudi Arabia. The Israeli diplomat stated that Israel and Saudi Arabia are still on the path to normalization. However, the Gaza war still presents complexities in normalization.
Regarding the possibility of normalizing relations with Lebanon, Leiter said that Lebanon has the opportunity to emerge from its failed state status and establish itself as a civil society. About Syria, he stated that the U.S. should wait to see what actions Syria takes, expressing concern about the protection of minorities such as Druze and Alawites in the country and the need for attention in this regard.
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