Official visits become routine, planes taking off from Ben Gurion Airport over Saudi Arabia and UAE sign business collaborations • As Iran's nuclear threat intensifies, clear leaders who can deal with it • and if on the road enjoy normalization with Israel - what good • Interpretation

• Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. What really interests him is the Iranian threat

  Photo: 

  Reuters

On Thursday night, Group 42 of Abu Dhabi, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafal - two Israeli government companies in the field of security - announced at the same time and openly a research and development cooperation agreement to find solutions to help fight the corona disease. A similar announcement regarding cooperation between private companies from Israel and the principals for the same purpose.

In recent months, relations between Israel and the UAE have been greatly strengthened. The Gulf authorities sold essential medical equipment to Israel at the height of the Corona epidemic, and two Abu Dhabi aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport openly, carrying aid to the Palestinian Authority.

It is believed that the continuation of the UAE's visible steps towards Israel could further normalize the parties, despite the possibility that Israel would implement the sovereignty course of the Trump program.

Ethiopian company plane from Abu Dhabi for the first time openly at Ben Gurion Airport, June 2020 // Photo: Henry Petrov

Although there are no official ties between Israel and the Persian Gulf oil authorities, there has been a public rapprochement in recent years. Saudi Arabia has eliminated a significant element in the Arab boycott and allowed aircraft to make their way to and from Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu has a public visit and is photographed in the Oman princesses. Israeli government ministers and athletes openly participated in conferences and competitions held in the Gulf states. Bahrain hosted a year ago businessmen and journalists from Israel, at the unveiling of the Trump chapter's economic chapter. A foreign ministry official opened in Abu Dhabi.

In addition to the connections between officials, there are extensive collaborations between businessmen, high-tech companies and other parties, from Israel and the Gulf states.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, who for years has been leading the process of rapprochement between Israel and the Gulfs, recently said in this context that "the stronger we are, the more powerful we are - the more we deter our enemies and bring our friends closer."

Indeed, there seems to be a unequivocal equation between Iran as a regional threat and the approach of Arab states to Israel. "My enemy is my friend," says the famous saying. This is the role Israel plays in the eyes of the Arab leaders, who are troubled by Iran's nuclear ambitions, no less than us. If there is a factor in the area capable of preventing Iran's nuclear deal - say the Arab kings and princes - it is worth his side. Apparently, it interests them much more than the annexation options.