Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expects “six or seven” Islamic nations to sign a normalization agreement with Tel Aviv once Saudi Arabia joins the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan in the Abraham Accords.
“Six or seven nations from Africa and Asia will join the peace deal with the Saudis,” Cohen said during an interview with Israel’s KAN News on Friday.
“I’m telling you, I have met with several officials from Muslim nations with which Israel does not share formal ties,” Israel’s top diplomat added without mentioning the names of the nations.
Around a month ago, Cohen found himself in a pickle after he caused a significant diplomatic issue with Libya, as it was disclosed by his office that he had met with the then-former foreign minister of Libya, Najla Mangoush, in Rome.
Mangoush was eventually fired as a result of the discovery, which also caused widespread protests in North Africa, and fled to London. Following his error, US officials lambasted Cohen for “killing” their communication channel with Libya, The Cradle reported.
Additionally, Israeli media reported a Mossad agent who claimed that Cohen’s actions “dealt immense damage to the ties formed [with Libya] in recent years,” adding: “He burned the bridge. It’s irreparable.”
Cohen’s media interview came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at the UN General Assembly, during which he asserted that Israel is “on the cusp” of normalising relations with Saudi Arabia while brandishing maps that depicted the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights as being a part of Israel.
