Negev Summit 2022

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) is greeted by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, January 30, 2023. (Sivan Shahor/GPO)

May 16, 2023, 4:40 pm

After US request, Jerusalem may change name of Negev Forum to make it less Israeli

Washington passes along Arab wish; Foreign Ministry weighing new titles in possible attempt to bring Jordan into the fold

By Lazar Berman

Then-Settlement Affairs Minister Tzachi Hanegbi in Gush Etzion in the West Bank, December 24, 2020. (Gershon Elinson/Flash90)

February 23, 2023, 1:43 pm

With Negev Summit planning on hold, Hanegbi said to be headed to UAE

Second confab, meant to be in Morocco in March, now up in the air amid violence between Israel and Palestinians

By Lazar Berman

The steering committee of the Negev Forum meets in Abu Dhabi, January 9, 2023 (UAE Foreign Ministry)

January 9, 2023, 3:27 pm

Israel, most Arab partners meet in UAE to prepare for Negev Forum summit in Morocco

Over 20 Israeli officials join delegation led by Foreign Ministry Director Alon Ushpiz for Abu Dhabi gathering of Abraham Accords countries, Egypt and US; Jordan stays away again

By Lazar Berman

(L) Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert, (C) Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz and (R) Bahrain’s Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa at the Negev Summit follow-up in Bahrain, June 27, 2022 (Foreign Ministry)

January 6, 2023, 2:51 pm

Negev Forum steering committee to meet in UAE to prepare next summit

Over 20 senior Israeli officials set to join delegation to Abu Dhabi led by Foreign Ministry Director Alon Ushpiz

By Lazar Berman

US President Donald Trump, center, with, from left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, September 15, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP)

September 15, 2022, 7:01 pm

Two years after Abraham Accords, worrying trends emerge amid achievements

While trade and diplomatic ties continue to expand, polls show public support in nations that normalized ties has plummeted — and it is unclear whether others will sign on

By Lazar Berman

Israeli supporters of Donald Trump wave United States and Israeli flags to support his candidacy outside the US embassy in Jerusalem, on October 27, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90/File)

June 29, 2022, 2:42 pm

Daily Briefing June 29: With Knesset chaos, Israel may lose out on a US visa waiver

Diplomatic correspondent Lazar Berman reports on the newly minted ‘Negev Forum’ and travel warnings for Israelis in Turkey; US correspondent Jacob Magid updates us on Biden’s visit

By ToI Staff

Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz (L), Bahrain’s Undersecretary for International Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa (C), and Director-General of Morocco's Foreign Ministry Fouad Yazur (R) at the Negev Summit follow-up in Bahrain, June 27, 2022. (Bahrain Foreign Ministry)

June 27, 2022, 7:14 pm

Israel, Arab allies agree to tighten cooperation ahead of Biden visit

First meeting of Negev Summit steering committee, held in Bahrain, seen as ‘important milestone’ as region prepares to receive US president

By Lazar Berman

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani waves, as he poses for a photo with attendees, following the Negev Summit in Kibbutz Sde Boker, southern Israel, March 28, 2022. Israel hosted the foreign ministers of four Arab nations and the United States in a bid to strengthen its position in a rapidly shifting Middle East. The gathering brought together the top diplomats from all but one of the Arab countries that have normalized relations with Israel in US-mediated negotiations. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

June 26, 2022, 9:10 pm

Negev Summit partners to meet in Bahrain on keeping cooperation going

First meeting of steering committee looks to formalize commitments made in unprecedented March gathering between Israel and regional partners, including on security initiatives

By Lazar Berman

Foriegn Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz attends a Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, June 9, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

June 1, 2022, 11:52 pm

Israeli team heads to Bahrain for talks on bilateral ties

Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz slated to meet Bahraini FM in Manama as part of ‘Warm Peace’ strategy

By Lazar Berman

The opening roundtable begins at the Negev Summit, as Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, clockwise from left, makes opening remarks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, March 28, 2022, in Sde Boker. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

May 3, 2022, 4:53 pm

As Israel, US prep for Biden visit, second regional forum reportedly being weighed

US president expected in late June; according to Axios, White House looking to build on ties forged during March’s Negev Summit, though plans are not concrete

By ToI Staff and Jacob Magid

After meeting for the Negev Summit, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaks with United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, March 28, 2022, in Sde Boker, Israel. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

April 14, 2022, 5:09 pm

UAE insists it welcomes regional initiatives that include Palestinians

After ToI reported Abu Dhabi is unenthusiastic about bringing PA into Abraham Accords, Emirati diplomat say his country is happy to work with US, Ramallah

By Lazar Berman and Jacob Magid

United Arab Emirates' Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, makes remarks at the Negev Summit, with from left, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, March 28, 2022, in Sde Boker, Israel. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

April 14, 2022, 12:18 am

US aims to fold Palestinians into expanded cooperation between Israel, Arab states

Effort an uphill battle as PA welcomes effort to boost regional standing, but not in context of Abraham Accords; UAE and Bahrain less enthusiastic and Israel not fully on board

By Jacob Magid

Israel's special envoy on climate change, Ambassador Gideon Behar, at the first-ever UN Middle East and North Africa regional conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 28, 2022. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)

March 31, 2022, 2:09 pm

Daily Briefing March 31: Biden sends support to Bennett; climate talks in Dubai

US correspondent Jacob Magid discusses president’s phone call with PM, plus more on the Negev Summit, and environmental reporter Sue Surkes reviews her visit to the UAE

By ToI Staff

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens to a question during a news conference, at the US Embassy in Algiers, Algeria, March 30, 2022,. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

March 31, 2022, 12:46 pm

Blinken stumps for normalization with Israel in visit to Algeria, which opposes it

Touting Abraham Accords, US secretary of state says ties will have practical benefits, expects other countries to notice advantages and seek to join in

By Jacob Magid

Right wing activists wave Israeli flags during a protest against Israel's Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, following a recent wave of violence, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, March 30, 2022. (AP/Oded Balilty)

March 31, 2022, 2:52 am

US ‘stands firmly’ with Israel amid terror spurt, Biden tells Bennett

Leaders talk by phone about importance of regional partnerships, as exemplified by Negev Summit, White House says, making no mention of Iran or Palestinians

By Jacob Magid