Israel and the countries that signed the Abraham Accords discussed enhancing cooperation in areas, such as security and information sharing, during the Negev Forum Working Group meetings in Abu Dhabi, according to a US official.
The Negev Forum Working Groups Meeting began in the presence of about 150 representatives of the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, and the US, with the aim of further building bridges of communication and dialogue and promoting peaceful coexistence throughout the region.
US State Department Counselor Derek Chollet described the Forum as the "largest meeting between Israel and its regional partners since the Madrid Summit in 1991."
According to Chollet, the meetings discussed broad issues related to "capacity-building, related to information sharing in an effort to augment the already very important work that is happening between our militaries in the region."
He added that the groups also addressed food security and education, which he indicated were "critical" to developing clear and tangible projects that would enhance integration and security, according to Agence France Presse.
Washington confirmed its efforts to cooperate with the European Union to find a way out of the stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli issue by pushing forward the two-state solution, reviving talks between the Palestinians and Israelis, and working to improve daily life in the West Bank and Gaza.
On Tuesday, the US State Department held a telephone briefing, with the participation of Asharq Al-Awsat from its Riyadh offices.
Aside from Chollet, the briefing included Senior Official for the Bureau of Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Elizabeth Allen, and US Permanent Representative to the UN Agencies in Rome Ambassador Cindy McCain.
Chollet said that the meetings "focused on strengthening the Palestinian economy and improving the quality of life of Palestinians" and advancing coordinated initiatives that would encourage regional integration, cooperation, and development, for the benefit of all people of the region.
According to McCain, the conference reviewed the findings on food and water security, saying they were the most important global security issue.
"The situation has become worse as a result of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's war in Ukraine, compounded with the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and regional conflicts."
She stressed that hunger and food shortages are rampant, especially in North African countries.
"We need a united global effort to save lives and to tackle the root of hunger. We must invest in science, technology, and integration to create efficient and resilient food systems for the future," McCain asserted.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the meeting was an outcome of the March 2022 Negev Ministerial Meeting.
The Forum aimed to enhance cooperation between countries and advance the interests of the region's peoples, including the Palestinian people.
It asserted UAE's support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights, including establishing an independent Palestinian state according to the June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Negev Forum, which convened against the backdrop of the Abraham Accords, would serve as a regional cooperation platform established by the six member states based on shared objectives.
The goals include promoting regional growth, stability, and prosperity, supporting the interests of all countries in the region, enhancing sustainable development, and providing solutions to existing challenges to achieve a better future for the coming generations.
A spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs had said that Israel and the United States were planning to hold another high-level meeting with four Arab countries this year.
The groups are expected to discuss the implementation of joint projects between the countries in health, regional security, education, tolerance, food and water security, tourism, and energy.
