Israeli-Gulf relations

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) poses beside Khalid Mashaal (C), the Hamas chief in exile, and Gaza's prime minister Ismail Haniyeh prior to their meeting in Ankara on June 18, 2013. Senior leaders of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas met today in Ankara with Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to discuss Erdogan's planned visit to the Gaza Strip as well as the situation in Syria, the source said on condition of anonymity. AFP PHOTO/ PRIME MINISTER PRESS OFFICE/ YASIN BULBUL == RESTRICTED T

Analysis

Will Turkey host Hamas leaders after consequential Qatar departure?

Pro-Muslim Brotherhood groups and leaders in Turkey enjoyed few restrictions on their activities in the past but are now seeing their activities curtailed.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 20: President Donald Trump (R) holds up a chart of military hardware sales as he meets with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Oval Office at the White House on March 20, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Analysis

Saudi Arabia to pursue two-track approach for Trump presidency

Riyadh is likely to compartmentalize business dealings with incoming President Donald Trump separately from its foreign policy engagements, where there is likely to be disagreement.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

After UAE visit, Qatari PM holds talks in Iran as Hamas officials depart Doha

A Gulf political official told Al-Monitor on Wednesday that the Qatari prime minister's visit to the UAE is designed to communicate Doha's new policy toward Hamas, where it seeks to be more in alignment with them regarding the group.

Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi (C), Director the Security Agency Ronen Bar (C-R) and Israel's Chief of the Mossad David Barnea (R).

Shin Bet chief discusses Gaza truce in Turkey: What we know

The Israeli official's travel to Turkey marks a dramatic development considering that Ankara has not played a part in these negotiations over the past year and Israel-Turkey relations have significantly deteriorated amid the Gaza war.

Latest News

MBS condemns Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza as Saudi frustrations mount

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives to attend a EU - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Brussels on October 16, 2024. Avoiding a "general conflagration" in the Middle East will be top of the agenda when European Union and leaders of countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, meet in Brussels on October 16, 2024. (Photo by JOHANNA GERON / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JOHANNA GERON/POOL/AFP via Get

Analysis

Beyond congratulations, Trump faces changed, eastward-looking Gulf

US President Donald Trump (L) speaks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (C) as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (2nd R) and Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May smile during a family photo session at the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. (Photo by KIM KYUNG-HOON / POOL / AFP) (Photo credit should read KIM KYUNG-HOON/AFP via Getty Images)

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

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Saudi-Israel normalization 'off table' until Palestinian statehood, FM says

Saudi Arabian Minister for Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud arrives at the BRICS summit in Kazan on October 24, 2024. (Photo by Alexander Zemlianichenko / POOL / AFP) (Photo by ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As response looms, US tries to dissuade Israel from catastrophic attack on Iran

Italian F35 fighter jets take part in the "Blue Flag" multinational air defence exercise at the Ovda air force base, north of the Israeli city of Eilat, on November 11, 2019. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

A picture shows a partial view of the Msaffah industrial district in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, on Jan. 17, 2022.

Israel points finger at Iran for Houthi attack on UAE

Israel is worried about the international community's lack of reaction to the Houthi drone attack on the Emirates, surely orchestrated by Iran.

Men stand next to a tank at a storage facility of oil giant ADNOC in Abu Dhabi on Jan. 17, 2022.

Israel offers UAE support after Houthi drone attack

Israel and the United States were swift to back Abu Dhabi amid an unprecedented drone attack by Iran-backed rebels.

Barnea

Report says Mossad chief had met with Libyan PM

Arab media outlets claimed yesterday that Mossad Director David Barnea met in Jordan recently with Khalifa Hifter’s rival, Libyan transition Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh.

A tourist from India poses for photos in an F-35 Lighting II on display by Lockheed Martin at the Dubai Airshow 2021 on Nov. 14, 2021

UAE top destination for tourists from India

The UAE is looking to enhance its trade ties with India and recently sent a delegation to the country.

Israel diamonds

Qatar, Israel reach agreement on diamond trade

Qatar is not part to the Abraham Accords for normalizing ties with Israel, but this did not prevent it from reaching a bilateral agreement with Israel on the trade of diamonds.

Haim Zach/GPO

Bennett commits to partnership with Emirates on UAE visit

On his historic visit to Abu Dhabi, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reassured his hosts that his government is committed to the alliance with the Emirates and that it will lobby on their behalf in Washington.

Haim Zach/GPO

Israeli PM pays landmark visit to UAE

On a first official visit to the Emirates, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives for the welcome ceremony on the first day of the G-20 summit, Rome, Italy, Oct. 30, 2021.

Israel wants Erdogan to act on Hamas

For Jerusalem, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's intentions for better relations need to be backed up with actions.

Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita (R) shakes hands with Israel's Defence Minister Benny Gantz, Rabat, Morocco, Nov. 24, 2021.

Gantz says Israel, Morocco ‘leap together’ in historic agreement

Defense Minister Benny Gantz signed this week in Rabat a landmark cooperation agreement with Morocco — the first such agreement signed by Israel with an Arab state.

A general view shows a stretch of the King Abdullah Canal near the Jordanian border town of Shuna Shamalia (North Shuna), some four kilometres from the Wadi al-Arab Dam on March 12, 2018.

Jordanian public unhappy with Israeli water deal

The sudden decision by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to sign a declaration of intent to trade clean electricity for water has produced public opposition despite the fact that Jordan badly needs to add to its water supply due to the increase in population from the regional violence.

An Israeli air force mechanic inspects an F-16 fighter during the Blue Flag multinational air defense exercise.

Israel-UAE trade reaches $700 million

Israel’s representative in Dubai said there is going to be a “surge” of business between Israel and the Emirates.

Israel navy

UAE, Israel, Bahrain, US conduct joint naval exercise in Red Sea

Fighter jets from Saudi Arabia and Israel flew alongside a US B-1 bomber over the region today in a separate exercise of force.