Tel Aviv/Tehran: – UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt participated in the Negev Conference organised by Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett claimed that these countries’ security-related talks and cooperation with Israel are a historical development. Iranian news agency Tasnim News has claimed that Iran, which has threatened Arab countries cooperating with Israel with serious consequences, is now beginning to realise the impact of the conference. The Israeli media were also forced to take cognisance of the claims made by the news agency.
Ben Gurion, the first Israeli Prime Minister, had built his home in the desert in Negev. Israel has delivered a strong message by holding this Summit at such an important place. The reason being that the Middle East countries have become insecure given the US policies. The billionaire Sheikhs from the Middle East countries, dependent on the United States for their security, have suddenly woken up from their slumber following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. The question ‘Will the United States withdraw from the Middle East like Afghanistan? What happens to their security in that scenario?’ is bothering them. Tasnim News has pointed out that they have started looking up to Israel as the power to replace the United States.
Leading Israeli newspaper ‘Jerusalem Post’ has drawn attention to this claim. The Israeli newspaper claimed that it is evident from the Tasnim News report that Iran has begun to realise the impact of the Negev Summit. United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Morocco openly participated in the Negev Summit and took the initiative for defence cooperation with Israel. Tasnim News has given indications that Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar will join this cooperation. An Arab organisation similar to NATO will be formed in the Middle East, which would pose a threat to Iran. But the Jerusalem Post has remarked that it is but natural that Iran, which uses the Houthi rebels to launch attacks on Saudi Arabian fuel projects, fears this.
The concerned Israeli newspaper also said that Iran is feeling concerned that these Arab countries will use Israel, a leader in drone and laser technology, for their defence needs in the coming times. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump had presented the concept of ‘Arab NATO’ during his visit to Saudi. But the idea did not get a big response at that time. But after Joe Biden took over as the US President, his pro-Iranian policies started affecting the Middle East countries. The Biden administration lost its credibility further with the withdrawal from Afghanistan and decisions betraying all its associate countries. In this scenario, the feeling of insecurity has grown further with the United States going ahead with signing the nuclear deal with Iran. Therefore, the Arab countries have decided to cooperate with Israel. This shows that the dangerous policies of the Biden administration are forcing the Middle East countries to increase cooperation with Israel. This has led to major upheavals in the Middle East region.
Furthermore, the Middle East countries are evidently displeased with the policies of the Biden administration is taking the initiative to cooperate with Israel and the adversaries of the United States. The latest example is the clear refusal of the Middle East countries to go against Russia on the fuel issue.
