U.S. Blocks Israel-GCC Ties
JERUSALEM [MENL] -- Israel has determined that the United States was trying
to block relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
A senior official responsible for relations with the Arab world said the
administration of President Barack Obama was not encouraging GCC interest in
ties with the Jewish state. Deputy Regional Cooperation Minister Ayoub Kara
said Washington was not interested in Israel-GCC ties, fueled by the threat
from Iran.
"It [Israel] could have cooperation with the threatened countries around
us, but the United States does not want this to happen, is interfering with
it and continues to push us toward the situation with the Palestinians,
which has no solution," Kara said.
Addressing a strategic conference in Jerusalem on Feb. 8, Kara said
several of the six GCC states were repeatedly sending messages to Israel.
The deputy minister cited Israeli effort with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and
Bahrain.
"The United States is not looking at the interests of Israel and the
Gulf states in the same frame," Kara said.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has alluded several times to Israeli
contacts with GCC and other unidentified Arab states. Netanyahu has
attributed Israel's spy agency, Mossad, for the diplomatic effort.
But Kara said Obama was determined to deny any Arab diplomatic
achievement to Netanyahu. He did not elaborate.
"They're not going to give Netanyahu a benefit in this case and make him
more popular," Kara said.

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