Netanyahu: Arab states have ‘thirst’ for Israel, normalizing ties

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli prowess in high-tech is creating diplomatic openings to counties in the Arab world.

“I’m not speaking theoretically. A number of neighboring countries at the moment are extending a hand to Israel and normalizing their ties to Israel. This is a step toward peace, because of innovation,” he says at the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation in Tel Aviv.

The prime minister says these Arab countries, which he does not name, don’t only want Israel technology for military purposes but also civilian ones, listing off water, health and solar energy, among others.

Netanyahu also says establishing ties to Arab countries could help bring peace with the Palestinians.

“We always thought that if we solve the Palestinian problem, this will open doors to peace with the Arab world,” he says. “But it also likely true in equal measure and maybe more, that if we develop ties with the Arab world and normalize relations with them, this will lead in the end to the possibility of reconciliation and peace with the Palestinians.”

While insisting Israel must pursue both tracks, Netanyahu says “the openness and thirst the Arab world has for Israel” shouldn’t be ignored.

“And the main reason for this is innovation,” he says.