Arabic version: نتنياهو يخطط لتحالف إقليمي ضد الخصوم المتطرفين

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel plans to build a network of allied nations in or around the Middle East to collectively stand against what he called “radical” adversaries. This declaration was made during a recent announcement regarding the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel. According to Al Jazeera, Netanyahu emphasized that India would be a key player in this coalition of nations that see eye to eye with Israel.

During his remarks, Netanyahu referred to Greece, Cyprus, and other unnamed Arab, African, and Asian countries as potential partners in the envisioned alliance. He expressed a vision of creating an entire system, essentially a ‘hexagon’ of alliances that would address the challenges posed by both the radical Shia axis, which we have struck very hard, and the emerging radical Sunni axis.

Modi echoed Netanyahu’s sentiments, highlighting the strong bond between India and Israel, which he described as rooted in trust and a commitment to peace. He emphasized the importance of their bilateral relations in a post on social media.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities in Gaza, which have strained Israel’s relationships with various predominantly Sunni Muslim states. Countries like Turkiye and Saudi Arabia have voiced criticism of Israel’s actions, complicating prospects for normalization. Since 2020, Israel has been working to establish formal ties with Arab and Muslim nations through the US-backed so-called “Abraham Accords”, fostering closer relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco.