JERUSALEM: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he hopes to reach peace deals with more Arab countries once the war against Iranian proxies Hamas and Hezbollah is complete. “The day after Hamas no longer controls Gaza and Hezbollah no longer sits on our northern border, we are working these days on plans to stabilise those two fronts. But the day after includes something else of utmost importance,” Netanyahu said in a speech to parliament. “I aspire to continue the process I led a few years ago of the signing of the historic Abraham Accords, and achieve peace with more Arab countries,” he said.
Israel, under the US-brokered 2020 accords, normalised relations with four Arab countries – the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. Since then, Israel, with US support, has sought to also include other nations, particularly Saudi Arabia. Riyadh says it will not recognise Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.
“These countries, and other countries, see clearly the blows we are landing on those who attack us, the Iranian axis of evil,” he said. “They aspire, like us, for a stable, secure and prosperous Middle East.”
On the latest meetings in Doha regarding a possible Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, Netanyahu said it focused on a new outline that takes into account previous proposals and regional developments. “In the coming days discussions will continue between the mediators and Hamas to examine the feasibility of talks and a continued attempt to advance a deal,” Netanyahu’s office said. It provided no other details.
