Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz held a video conference discussion with his counterparts in the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan and Bahrain for the first time yesterday. Energy leaders from the United States and Egypt also participated in the talks.
Abu Dhabi, Rabat, Khartoum and Manama agreed to normalize relations over the past six months while Cairo signed a 1979 peace treaty with Jerusalem – all in deals brokered by Washington.
Energy Minister Steinitz hailed the meeting as an “historic milestone,” and an example of “leveraging energy to advance cooperation and dialogue with Arab states.
According to a statement from Steinitz’ office, “The ministers discussed how diplomatic relations between the countries could revolutionize national security, economic prosperity and adding content to the peace agreements, including investments in energy research and development, deploying infrastructure and technology.”
Minister Steinitz added that he had “no doubt” that the EastMed Gas Forum that he helped initiate “is now paving the way for more cooperation on renewable energy, research and development and the possibility to connect electric grids in the near future.”