Israel working to normalise ties with Mauritania and three other Muslim majority countries

Israel is working to expand the controversial Abraham Accords with at least four other Muslim-majority nations, including Mauritania, according to reports.

Israel's Foreign Minister Elie Cohen is seeking to normalise relations with Mauritania, Somalia, Niger and Indonesia, Israel Hayom reported. 

Israel established the so-called Abraham Accords with the UAE in September 2020 under the auspices of the US, while Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco also agreed to establish ties that year.

The Arab League states that members should only normalise relations with Israel when an independent Palestinian state is established, and not before as the four Arab nations did. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is involved in efforts to expand the accords, alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Israel Hayom reported.

Leading US official Amos Hochstein, who mediated the Israel-Lebanon maritime deal during the Bennett-Lapid government, is also reportedly involved in the process.

Israel and Mauritania established ties in 1999 but these were cut in 2008 following the Gaza war.

Somalia has never had diplomatic relations with Israel, however recent Israeli reports have indicated that the country’s president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is interested in establishing them.

Indonesia and Niger have also never had official diplomatic relations with Israel.

Mauritania and Somalia are members of the Arab League, alongside 20 other countries.

Israel established relations with Egypt and Jordan in 1979 and 1994 respectively.

The Abraham Accords angered Palestinians, who said they were a betrayal of their cause.