Saturday, 27 October 2018

*Israel's Netanyahu Meets 🤝 Sultan Qaboos in Surprise Trip ✈ to Oman*

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made an unannounced trip to Oman, according to his office, in an apparent sign of warming ties between the two countries.

Netanyahu and his wife Sara were joined by Mossad intelligence chief Yossi Cohen, who has reportedly been responsible for clandestine talks with Gulf governments, and National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat.

The Israeli delegation reportedly flew to Oman on Thursday and returned to Israel on Friday.

Marking what was the first visit by an Israeli leader to the sultanate in over two decades, Netanyahu's office said in a statement on Friday that the visit came at the invitation of Sultan Qaboos and followed "lengthy contacts between the two countries".

A joint statement said the two sides "discussed ways to advance the Middle East peace process" and "a number of issues of mutual interest to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East".

Oman and Israel do not have diplomatic relations.

The last Israeli leader to visit Oman was Shimon Peres in 1996.

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