The United Arab Emirates didn’t need peace with Israel to counter Iran, a top UAE official said Friday, but he said Iran’s aggressive policies over three decades alarmed many Arab countries and made them look at their relationship with Israel “with fresh eyes.”

Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs, acknowledged at a virtual briefing on the sidelines of the equally virtual UN General Assembly’s annual meeting of world leaders that this may not have been Iran’s intention. But its actions had an impact in the region, he said, though he wouldn’t speculate on whether other Arab countries would follow the UAE and Bahrain in establishing relations with Israel.

“The only thing I want to say is the more strategic the Israelis look at these relationships, the more doors will open to them,” Gargash said. “If they look at it very `transactionally’, I think that it is not going to send a very good omen for normalizing relations with many of the Arab countries.”

Gargash said the UAE’s message to Israel is to “look at these opportunities and build strategically, and think long term rather than short term” — and prove wrong the countries who say that because of the Israeli political system its decision-makers think only tactically.

Read More: Times of Israel

Related Articles:

The TRUTH about this week’s evil pogrom against Jews in Amsterdam

On Thursday night, Jews, Israelis, and supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv were hunted down in the streets of Amsterdam by antisemitic hate mobs. Some victims were beaten, others were rammed...

“A huge victory” – Israel reacts to Trump’s election win

President Donald Trump’s victory in the US election has been welcomed in Israel. As results emerged confirming Trump’s emphatic win, gigantic billboards appeared across Israel...

Anti-Israel institutions highlight how the world’s wisdom is foolishness to God

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness.’" - 1 Corinthians 3:19 Governments, global bodies, legal...

Why Israel is right to ban UNWRA

Israel has banned UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. The decision didn’t come out of the blue. The Jewish state has been warning the UN and international community for years...

Netanyahu’s assassination attempt is a reminder to pray for Israel’s leaders

The drone strike on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s home is an important reminder to continue praying for the protection of Israel’s leaders.Benjamin Netanyahu’s house in Caesarea was struck...

Subscribe to start receiving FREE TORCH magazines from CUFI UK