Oman, on Monday, reiterated its calls for achieving comprehensive peace in the Middle East, stressing the importance of resuming peace negotiations and achieving the legitimate demands of the Palestinian people.
Oman’s foreign ministry revealed that Foreign Minister Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah received a phone call from his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, to discuss recent developments in the region. The call a few days after the UAE and Israel announced a deal to normalize ties.
Bin Alawi and Ashkenazi spoke via telephone about "recent developments in the region," Oman's foreign ministry said on Twitter.
Muscat had already expressed its support for the deal, and bin Alawi told Ashkenazi that Oman "clearly reaffirms its position calling for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace" in the Middle East.
Bin Alawi also called for a "resumption of the peace process in order to satisfy the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people who aspire to an independent state."
Also Monday, bin Alawi spoke with senior Fatah official Jibril Rajub, who expressed his "appreciation of the role of the Sultanate and its balanced and wise policy towards Arab issues and, foremost, the Palestinian question," according to Oman's foreign ministry.
Bin Alawi emphasized the depth of Omani-Palestinian relations and the Sultanate's regional and international efforts in support of the chances of achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Oman, on Friday, welcomed the historic normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement carried by the state-run Oman News Agency said the new accord will “fulfill the aspirations of the peoples in the region in sustaining pillars of security and stability."
Israel and the UAE announced their agreement in a joint statement with the White House. As part of the deal, Israel has agreed to temporarily suspend plans to annex large portions of the West Bank.
