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Netanyahu’s visit to Oman aimed at changing Mideast structure: Analyst

Saturday, 27 October 2018 5:23 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 27 October 2018 6:42 PM ]

A handout picture released by the official Twitter account of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 26, 2018 shows him (L) meeting with Oman's Sultan Qaboos in the Omani capital Muscat during his unannounced visit to the Persian Gulf country. (Photo by AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has visited Oman in an attempt to change the geopolitical structure of the Middle East, says an analyst.

“I think quite clearly Israel is trying to position itself in the region as a friend and ally of the [P] GCC alliance. It is trying to break whatever ties existing between Iran and Oman for example. It is quite clear that Israel is trying to wriggle its way within the [P] GCC countries and the Middle East in general to try to break away not just ties but break away the geopolitical structure of the region altogether and to appear to be a valid partner,” Catherine Shakdam, fellow at the Bayan Centre for Studies, in an interview on Saturday.

“This is not really new. Both Saudi Arabia and Turkey over the past few years have tried to make advances in the Middle East to try to support their own agenda and now Israel is doing the same because I think in view what has transpired with Saudi Arabia and the way that [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammed bin Salman is very quickly losing political capital and even legitimacy within the kingdom itself, I think Israel is trying to reposition itself and find new partners in the region,” she added.

On Friday, Netanyahu visited Oman in a rare visit, while accompanied by other senior Israeli officials, including the head of the Israeli spy agency Mossad.

It's the first meeting of this kind since 1996. Oman and Israel reportedly had economic ties, but no diplomatic relations, in the aftermath of the 1993 Oslo Accord.