Netanyahu: Israel has relations with whole Middle East except Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel maintains relations with all countries in the Middle East except one – Syria.

Prior to leaving Israel for the US- sponsored Warsaw Conference – which is set to take place in the Polish capital this week – Netanyahu told reporters that the conference unites Israel with all world countries against Iran, the New York Times reported today.

Netanyahu stated that Israel maintains “good relations” with all countries in the Arab region except Syria. The New York Times pointed out that Syria has been a target of Israeli attacks in recent months, stating that the attacks aimed to remove alleged Iranian targets.

The New York Times also cited the Associated Press as saying that the Warsaw conference would be a gift for Netanyahu if he could make his secret “good relations” with the Arab countries public.

Associated Press expects this would be the best goal for Netanyahu as it would help him improve his status during the upcoming Israeli general election slated for 9 April.

As the Warsaw conference began today, Omani Foreign Minister Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah met with Netanyahu. The prime minister published footage of the meeting on his official YouTube channel, just hours after Israeli TV Channel 13 leaked a video of Bin Abdullah setting off from his car in a basement car park, in which he said he is heading to meet with Netanyahu.

READ: US seeks to increase pressure on Iran at Warsaw meeting