BICOM

Photo by Avi Ohayon (GPO)

What happened: Prime Minister Netanyahu held a series of meetings yesterday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

• All the meetings focused on bilateral ties, with most also addressing broader regional issues, including the Iranian threat and the potential normalisation with Saudi Arabia.
• Netanyahu was accompanied by Minster Dermer, National Security Adviser Hanegbi, senior staff and Director of Mossad Barnea.
• Netanyahu was ‘greeted’ by dozens of demonstrators outside their hotel protesting the domestic judicial reform. In addition, hundreds gathered in Times Square to protest.
• Earlier in the trip, Netanyahu was forced to clarify comments that accused the Israeli demonstrators of joining forces with Iran and the PLO. According to Netanyahu’s office, “When the Prime Minister used the term ‘joining forces,’ he was referring to the fact that while the Prime Minister of Israel represents the State of Israel on the UN stage, Israeli citizens, together with supporters of the PLO and the BDS movement, would be protesting outside at the same time, something that has never happened before. One can only hope that the Israeli protesters will take at least a few minutes also to protest against those who deny Israel’s right to exist.”
• Netanyahu first meeting yesterday was with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, confirming that the Paraguayan Embassy in Jerusalem would reopen, as would the Israeli Embassy in Asunción.
• In parallel yesterday, in Jerusalem the new British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters presented his credentials to President Herzog. The President noted, “Britain has an important standing in the Middle East. There are many areas for our governments to discuss, chief among them the issue of Iran.”
• The Ambassador responded saying, “Iran is not only a threat to the Middle East, but a threat to the entire world. The British Government’s position regarding Iran has been very firm.”

Meeting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: This was their first meeting since Russia invaded Ukraine.

• Netanyahu emphasised that Israel would continue to assist Ukraine on humanitarian issues, but due to Israel’s sensitive predicament with Russia’s role in Syria, would not be supplying military aid.
• Zelenskyy is keen for Israel to do more, but said that overall he is satisfied with relations with Israel.
• Israel recently announced that it would extend the financial assistance given to Ukrainian refugees in Israel.
• It was notable that at the photo-op at the beginning of the meeting, after the formal handshakes with the Israeli delegation, Zelenskyy gave Mossad Director Barnea a warm hug, suggesting familiarity.

Meeting Turkish President Erdogan: This was the first time Erdogan and Netanyahu have ever met in person.

• After several years of tension, bilateral relations have improved over the last couple years, particularly in trade and economic ties. The thaw began when Erdogan reached out to President Herzog in summer 2021.
• Last year an Iranian terror cell targeted Israelis in Istanbul. The attack was thwarted in a joint effort between Mossad and Turkish intelligence. Yesterday Netanyahu thanked Erdogan for that security cooperation.
• They also exchanged reciprocal invitations to visit each other’s county. Turkey celebrates the 100^th anniversary of its Independence later this year. Erdogan is understood to be keen to include a visit to Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem to mark the occasion.

Meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz:  Netanyahu thanked the chancellor for his commitment to Israel, for Germany’s commitment to the security of Israel, and for preserving the special relationship.

• As Germany is part of the E3, the pair focused on Iran’s belligerent behaviour, most recently preventing the IAEA inspectors from accessing their nuclear installations.
• The two countries enjoy strong bilateral security cooperation. Germany supplies Israel with advanced submarines, whilst Israel recently agreed to supply Germany with the advance Arrow 3 missile defence system, worth £3bn.
• Relating to the prospect of an agreement with Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu told Scholz it would not involve significant concessions to the Palestinians. He compared it to the Abraham Accords, saying, “their significance is the removal of the Palestinian veto on the peace process with the Arab states.” Instead, Netanyahu said that he was prepared to make economic and civilian good will gestures.

Inside the General Assembly: In his remarks, Biden championed “the groundbreaking effort… to connect India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel [which] will spur opportunities and investment across two continents.”

• “This is part of our effort,” he continued, “to build a more sustainable, integrated Middle East.  It demonstrates how Israel’s greater normalisation and economic connection with its neighbours is delivering positive and practical impacts even as we continue to work tirelessly to support a just and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians — two states for two people.”
• During Iranian President Raisi’s speech, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan walked through the assembly holding a picture of Mahsa Amini, the Iranian woman whose killing by the regime sparked mass protest last year, with the caption “Iranian women deserve freedom now”. Erdan then walked out of the hall in protest against the UN’s enabling of “the butcher of Tehran”.

Looking ahead: All this is a prelude to Netanyahu’s most important meeting. This afternoon at 1515 UK time, Netanyahu will meet with US President Joe Biden. This is to be their first meeting since Netanyahu’s re-election nine months ago, and is expected to focus on the possibility of a US led deal on Israel-Saudi Arabian normalisation.

• Later today Netanyahu is also due to meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
• Israel’s Foreign Minister Cohen is also in New York and due to meet more than 20 foreign ministers including from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Greece, Singapore, and Azerbaijan.