Israel established 11 new diplomatic missions worldwide between 2010 and 2012, the country’s Finance Ministry reported. Among them is a diplomatic mission in the Persian Gulf, but officials refuse to disclose its location.
The Finance Ministry’s budget for the next year, to be submitted
for Cabinet approval this week, has revealed that Israel has
created almost a dozen new missions around the world since
2010.
The Financial Ministry’s website mentioned Embassies in Ashgabat
(Turkmenistan), Wellington (New Zealand), Accra (Ghana), Tirana
(Albania) and the Caribbean, as well as consulates in Guangzhou
(China), Sao Paolo (Brazil), Munich (Germany) and St. Petersburg
(Russia), and a “diplomatic delegate to the Pacific.”
The ministry, however, refused to divulge information on a
diplomatic mission reportedly set up in the Persian Gulf. “We
cannot comment on this matter,” the Foreign Ministry said, as
quoted by Haaretz.
To date, Israel has no formal diplomatic relations with the Arab
Gulf States, comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Mark A. Heller, a Principal Research Associate at the Institute
for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, explained there is
nothing unprecedented about Israel reaching out to the Arab Gulf
States: “Diplomacy outreach is something that existed in the
past between Israel and some of the Arab countries,” Heller
told RT.
When asked the reason behind the renewal of diplomatic
relations, Heller said the answer boiled down to one word:
“Iran.” Better relations with the Arab Gulf States will
facilitate “better coordination and analysis” when it comes
to gauging the perceived Iranian threat, he said.
News of Israel’s push for new diplomatic missions comes on the
heels of an earlier report that suggested Israel is attempting to
mend security fences with some of its neighbors. Earlier this
month, it was reported that Israel is considering allying itself
with several moderate Arab states in a US-brokered defense alliance
that would be aimed at containing Iran, which is accused of
developing nuclear weapons.
Tehran rejects allegations that it is attempting to acquire
nuclear weapons, maintaining that its nuclear research is for its
civilian sector.
The alleged alliance would see Israel partnering with Saudi
Arabia, Jordan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to forge a
Middle East ‘moderate crescent’ to contain, rather than
confront, Iran, the Sunday Times reported, citing an anonymous
Israeli official.
Such an alliance would give Israel access to radar stations in
Saudi Arabia and the UAE in exchange for its own early warning
radar information and anti-ballistic missile defense systems, the
source said.
Turkey has dismissed reports of a security alliance with Israel.
“These are manipulative reports which have nothing to do with
the reality,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told Hürriyet
Daily News.
This article originally appeared on : RT