Pak Sahafat -“National Interest” in an analysis while evaluating the reasons for Muscat’s disinterest in joining the Ibrahim agreement, claimed that America should seriously put the normalization of relations between Oman and Israel, which is in line with Washington’s interests, on its agenda.
In response to the question why Oman does not normalize its relations with the Zionist regime, the “National Interest” research media center stated that Oman has a good capacity to be a stabilizing force in the Persian Gulf; This is exactly what America’s security interests in the region need, and the normalization of relations with Israel is a step towards achieving this goal.
“Eric Mendel”, the director of the Middle East Political Information Network (MEPIN), has stated in his report that Iran and Saudi Arabia do not threaten each other now, and Oman is between them and tries hard to remain neutral and treads delicately. Oman’s foreign policy is friendship with everyone and enmity with no one, and in this regard, Muscat refrains from any provocative actions and uses every diplomatic initiative to reduce tension.
This analyst close to the Zionist circles claims that this foreign policy approach has contradictions that lead to the loss of Oman and other countries. For example, last week, Oman signed a “strategic document to strengthen bilateral cooperation” with Iran to help advance Tehran’s economic interests. Muscat is eager to maintain good relations with the Islamic Republic, which can be seen from its shores on the other side of the Persian Gulf.
This new agreement, however, supports Iran’s resistance economy against American sanctions and is in favor of China and Russia, which are trying to fill the vacuum created by America in the Middle East. At the same time, Oman has warm relations with the United States and its allies, and even trades with Israel, Washington’s top partner in the Middle East, without joining the Ibrahim agreement.
Although Oman, like the Arab member countries of the Ibrahim Agreement, needs economic investment and joint projects that Israel can provide for economic prosperity, Oman prefers to act as a reliable mediator between both parties and benefit. For this reason, both Washington and Tel Aviv are interested in facilitating the normalization of relations between Oman and Israel.
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Israel secretly trades with many Arab countries in the fields of water management, agriculture, technology and security. Today, more than 1,200 Israeli companies are doing business in the Persian Gulf and even with Qatar. But this question is raised, why did Oman, which could gain a lot of profit from it, not join the Ibrahim agreement?
The expert of this American think tank claims: One of the reasons was that Sultan Qaboos was dying and the new Sultan had not yet consolidated his power base. Under the leadership of Qaboos, Oman has been neutral, if not friendly, with Israel and even hosted two Israeli prime ministers (Yitzhak Rabin in 1994 and Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018). They say they have no enmity with Jews or Israel, but they are not in a position to do so until the Saudis join the Ibrahim agreement.
Another potential reason is that the Omanis, like the Qataris and Saudis, are sensitive to the problems of Palestine. Although Oman claims to be talking to all parties, they do not consider the time to negotiate with Israel. The head of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs of Oman believes that knowledge is not enough, we must know the other side, but we have not known the Israelis yet.
In another part, the author found it easy to move towards the normalization of relations with Israel and stated: Oman’s normalization path with Israel, which will benefit them a lot, includes taking small steps to create more cooperation and diplomatic initiatives.
Oman’s support for tripartite projects between the country and the Palestinian Authority and Israel on issues beyond politics, such as water issues, is appropriate. Oman has a research center on desalination, while Israel is the world’s leading desalination expert.
Another option is for Oman to actively participate in the Forum of Arab States and Israel and present projects that are financed by the United States and the wealthy countries of the Persian Gulf. Oman’s direct involvement in overseeing the project’s money may reduce the region’s mistrust of the Palestinians.
According to the author’s claim, trust is necessary for Oman, Israel and the rest of the Persian Gulf countries before normalization begin, and at this stage, Washington’s help in creating the conditions is important. Accordingly, if America cannot convince Mohammed bin Salman to normalize relations with Israel at this point in time, the participation of the Omanis can be an intermediate step. For this reason, Washington can provide economic incentives and security guarantees to reduce Omani concerns because it is in the interest of the United States and its allies in the Persian Gulf that the region is stable.