Is the road to the east getting shorter?
In recent days, progress has been made with Oman in talks about opening the Sultanate's airspace to flights from and to Israel, including by Israeli airlines, Israel Hayom learned.
As you may recall, Saudi Arabia allowed Israeli flights to pass through its territory as part of a deal announced during US President Biden's visit to the region. However, this permit is practically useless as long as Oman refuses to open its airspace.
The assumption of the work in Israel was that receiving the permit from Oman is a formal matter, since good relations prevail between the countries over the years.
Although there are no official diplomatic ties between Jerusalem and Muscat, Prime Ministers Rabin, Peres and Netanyahu have visited Oman openly.
Sultan of Oman, photo: E.P
However, at the moment of truth it became clear that, contrary to estimates, Oman refuses to grant the long-awaited approval, which prevents the shortening of flight routes from Israel to a variety of destinations in the Far East and the discounting of flight tickets to them.
In "Israel Hayom" it was announced for the first time about a month and a half ago that the reason for this is Iranian pressure on the authorities of Oman, which may have even been accompanied by explicit threats.
President of Iran Raisi.
Tehran put pressure on Oman, photo: AP
In recent days, reports have been published on social networks in the Arabic language about significant progress in contacts between the countries.
According to the reports, not all of whose details are verified, Oman has set the following conditions for Israeli flights: the Sultanate's authorities will be able to inspect Israeli planes that are forced to land at the airport in Oman;
The permit will be for commercial and civil flights only;
The Sultanate will have the full right to freeze the permit according to its interests;
And the Israeli planes will not land at an airport in Oman, except in emergency situations.
"Israel Hayom" has learned that apparently the talks with the Omanis on the subject were held during the UN assembly that convened last week in New York.
It is not clear if direct talks were held with the Omanis, or if the talks were held through the mediation of the United Arab Emirates and perhaps even Saudi Arabia, which has a great influence on Oman.
Roll the ball
According to Dr. Yoel Gozhansky, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and former holder of the Iran and Persian Gulf portfolio at the MAL, "Israel is trying to exert leverage on Oman with which it has direct ties, and also through its neighbors in the Gulf such as the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi agreement to open The airspace was in fact an empty statement that has no actual meaning, as long as Oman does not approve a similar step.
President of the United Arab Emirates Mohammed bin Zayed.
Indirect pressure, photo: Ai.
Nose.
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"No possibility can be ruled out, including that the Saudis knew in advance that Oman would hesitate to open its airspace, and it was convenient for them to give formal consent and get the ball rolling on Oman. The Saudis have leverage against Oman, relations between the two countries have improved in recent years, and if they wanted to, they would Click on it.
"According to my assessment, at least two things have so far delayed the opening of the Sultanate's skies to Israeli flights: Iran's threats to Oman and its neighbors not to warm relations with Israel, and perhaps also an Omani desire to demand some kind of return from Israel or the US, whether in the Palestinian field or in other fields".
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