Embrace from the Emirates

Israel and the United Arab Emirates plan to establish a joint operations room to combat the growing threat from Iran.

That revelation, made by Israeli intelligence officials on an exclusive call last week, is just the latest indication of Israel’s developing relations with its Gulf Arab neighbors.

Coordination between Israel and the UAE was facilitated by Brian Hook, head of the US State Department’s Iran Action Group. Hook has also been instrumental in arranging meetings between Israel and other Gulf nations, like Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Israel has official diplomatic relations with Egypt and Jordan, but in recent years connections have developed with the Gulf states as a result of growing concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as well as its involvement in conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.