Comoros could be next to normalize ties with Israel

Stories yesterday say Israel and Comoros are in talks to determine diplomatic relations. The Islands of Comoros is a Muslim-majority nation and member of the Arab League. If it occurs, Comoros would be the fifth Muslim nation to both normalize ties with Israel or advance normalization within the final 12 months, within the framework of the 2020 Abraham Accords. These American-sponsored agreements caused normalization of diplomatic ties between Israel, the Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. Sudan is seemingly additionally on its option to finalizing normalization.

Whereas the Israeli Overseas Ministry didn’t react to the Comoros reviews, Overseas Minister Yair Lapid mentioned at his joint Oct. 13 press convention in Washington with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Emirati Overseas Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed al Nahyan, “We’re engaged on increasing the Abraham Accords. However at the start, we wish to ensure that the present agreements we now have shall be successful story. And it’s so far successful story. … We’re going to push ahead as arduous as we are able to on this whereas engaged on increasing the Abraham Accords to different international locations, together with those you don’t consider.”

Which different international locations? Minister of Regional Cooperation Esawi Frej instructed Emirati web site Erem Information yesterday that Qatar, Tunisia, Oman and Malaysia might be part of the Abraham Accords. “Each Arab nation within the Center East, even the hostile international locations, we now have direct and oblique relations with them. I see on the far horizon that every one the international locations of the Center East shall be inside a union,” mentioned Frej.

The Abraham Accords had been one in every of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest diplomatic achievements. Lapid has acknowledged this truth on a number of events, however appears to be aiming even greater.

Lapid’s diplomatic schedule has been busy. Yesterday, he met on the ministry together with his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde. Israel and Sweden have lengthy differed over the Palestinian difficulty. This diplomatic battle worsened in 2014, when Sweden turned the primary European Union member state to acknowledge Palestine. Linde’s go to was the primary such in virtually a decade, clearly signaling willingness by each international locations to open a brand new chapter of their relations.

Israeli Ambassador to Sweden Ziv Nevo Kulman took workplace mid-September. Mending diplomatic relations between the 2 international locations has been his first precedence, and evidently Lapid agreed in addition to their Swedish counterparts. Diplomatic sources instructed Al-Monitor that whereas the Abraham Accords performed an element in creating this window of alternative, the principle driver was the brand new Israeli authorities and its agenda.

Apparently, at their joint press convention, Lapid shared his private household attachment to Sweden: His father was saved throughout World Battle II by the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. Linde, for her half, highlighted Sweden’s friendship to Israel and its dedication to its existence and safety. She even briefly talked about Iran. Whereas it is unlikely Jerusalem has discovered a brand new ally in its marketing campaign in opposition to the nuclear settlement, Stockholm might show friendlier to Jerusalem when points associated to Israel are introduced up within the EU headquarters in Brussels.

Lapid additionally met yesterday together with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Indian minister arrived to Israel together with his spouse and was hosted by Lapid and his spouse for a tour on the Shalva college for handicapped kids, a trigger pricey to the Lapids’ hearts. Through the assembly on the Overseas Ministry, Israeli Vitality Minister Karine Elharrar signed an settlement committing Israel to the International Solar Alliance, initiated by India in 2015.

Netanyahu had lengthy fostered shut ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, bringing the 2 international locations strategically nearer. Jaishankar’s go to might be seen as a check for Lapid to prime Netanyahu. He bought assist from throughout the ocean as Blinken hosted a Zoom assembly with Lapid, Jaishankar and Bin Zayed. A press release by the State Division mentioned the 4 of them mentioned “increasing financial and political cooperation within the Center East and Asia, together with by means of commerce, combating local weather change, vitality cooperation, and rising maritime safety.” 

On July 8, shortly after taking workplace, Lapid traveled to Jordan for a gathering with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Overseas Minister Ayman Safadi. The go to bore fruit Oct. 12, when Elharar signed along with her Jordanian counterpart an settlement for Israel to double the amount of water provided to the Hashemite kingdom. On Sept. 12 Lapid offered his imaginative and prescient for a long-term settlement between Israel and the Gaza Strip and on Sept. 19 he spoke together with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry. It is being reported this week that the Biden administration is pushing for Sudan to formally reestablish ties with Israel subsequent month. If this occurs and Comoros joins in, Lapid will give Netanyahu a run for his cash.