Mike Pompeo encourages Saudis to recognise Israel in latest Middle East security push

Name: Coronavirus health crisis forces Israel and Palestine to cooperate
Uploaded: 2020-10-14T14:45:46.000Z
Duration: 1 min 53 s
Description: Coronavirus health crisis forces Israel and Palestine to cooperate

Bahrain, which tightly coordinates its foreign policy with Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates on September 15 signed the so-called Abraham Accords with Israel

US President Donald Trump has highlighted Arab normalisation with Israel as a major achievement as he seeks another term in November 3 election

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Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Photo: Reuters

Agence France-Presse

Published: 10:45pm, 14 Oct 2020Updated: 11:31pm, 14 Oct 2020

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday encouraged Saudi Arabia to recognise Israel, in what would be a massive boost for the Jewish state amid normalisation by two other Gulf Arab kingdoms.

Bahrain, which tightly coordinates its foreign policy with Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates on September 15 signed the so-called Abraham Accords with Israel at the White House.

Meeting Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Pompeo said the agreement “contributed greatly to our shared goals for regional peace and security”.

“They reflect a changing dynamic in the region, one in which countries rightly recognise the need for regional cooperation to counter Iranian influence and generate prosperity,” Pompeo said.

“We hope Saudi Arabia will consider normalising its relationships as well. We want to thank them for the assistance they’ve had in the success of the Abraham Accords so far.”

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Coronavirus health crisis forces Israel and Palestine to cooperate

US President Donald Trump has highlighted Arab normalisation with Israel as a major achievement as he seeks another term in November 3 elections, with his evangelical Christian base widely supportive of the Jewish state.