Once thought to be irreconcilable adversaries, Israel and the Gulf states have grown closer in recent years. What started as under-the-table intelligence sharing designed to counter Iran’s ambitions throughout the Middle East has morphed into greater cooperation not only on security but also on economic, political, and cultural issues. Recent contacts between government officials demonstrate that both sides are willing to show they have been cooperating publicly.
In light of how much these relationships have grown, the Atlantic Council has released a new issue brief, “Israel’s Growing Ties with the Arab Gulf States,” authored by Jonathan H. Ferziger, a Jerusalem-based journalist, and Gawdat Bahgat, a professor at the National Defense University.