Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid greets his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday.
Representatives from Arab allies of Israel are arriving to attend a multilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expected to focus on Iran.
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Bahraini FM Abdulatif Al Zayani arrived in Israel Sunday evening to attend a six-way regional meeting to discuss “advancing regional security” especially against the Iranian threat.
Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan touched down at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel ahead of the start of the Negev Summit this evening.
According to the participants, the meetings so far have been “very warm including embraces and friendly conversation.”
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz shakes hands with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a diplomatic meeting on Sunday.
Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu praises the arrival of several Arab ministers ahead of the Negev Summit, saying, “It’s a direct result of the Abraham Accords we brought… the strengthening of the Abraham Accords is a good thing for peace, it’s good for Israel.”
He said he believes Blinken is “making a big mistake” on Iran, adding “Iran without a nuclear agreement is a poor country, an isolated county, a country that has no international legitimacy and no immunity from a military option… Iran with a nuclear agreement becomes a rich country with hundreds of billions of dollars which they’ll use for terror and aggression.”
The top diplomats are holding discussions and meeting on Sunday and Monday.
Leaders of Egypt, Israel and the United Arab Emirates also met on March 22 in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.