Oman, Indonesia likely next countries to forge ties with Israel

Netanyahu visited Oman in 2018 and met with then-leader Sultan Qaboos, Rabin visited Indonesia in 1993.

By Jerusalem Post, December 13, 2020

Oman and Indonesia could be next in line to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in the coming weeks, a diplomatic source said Sunday.

The Trump administration is continuing in its efforts to bring more Arab and Muslim countries into the Abraham Accords. The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have agreed to normalization with Israel.

After Bhutan agreed to forge ties with Israel outside of the framework of the accords, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday night said Israel is “in touch with additional countries that want to join and establish relations with us.”

US Vice President Mike Pence plans to visit Israel in January, as first reported by The Jerusalem Post last week, Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) told Army Radio on Sunday.

While here, Pence may announce that another country will establish relations with Israel, he added.

The diplomatic source identified Oman and Indonesia as two countries with which talks have advanced and with whom normalization could be announced before US President Donald Trump leaves office on January 20.

Intelligence Minister Eli Cohen mentioned Indonesia in an Army Radio interview.

However, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry denied that any such efforts were underway and reaffirmed its support for Palestinian statehood, CNN Indonesia reported.

On Friday, Oman welcomed the announcement of ties between Israel and Morocco, expressing hope that they “will further endeavor to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Netanyahu visited Oman in 2018 and met with its then-leader, the late Sultan Qaboos. Israel had unofficial trade relations with Oman in 1994-2000, and the countries cooperate in opposing Iranian aggression.

Israel and Indonesia do not have formal diplomatic relations, but they cooperate in trade and tourism. Indonesia bought arms from Israel in the 1970s and 1980s, and Indonesian soldiers have trained in Israel.