Four Arab foreign ministers arriving for parley at Ben Gurion’s Negev kibbutz

The unique conference opens on Monday at Sde Boker, the kibbutz home of Israel’s founding father David Ben Gurion, led by FM Yair Lapid. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived on Saturday night and called on PM Naftali Bennett, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and President Isaac Herzog Sunday morning. Due to attend the “Negev summit” are four Arab foreign ministers: Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed of the UAE; Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani of Bahrain; Nasser Bourita of Morocco; and Sameh Shoukry of Egypt. After dinner, the ministers will spend the night at the Kedma Hotel on the kibbutz and present readouts Monday evening at the end of their deliberations. Iran and regional security, ahead of a nuclear deal’s signing in Vienna, as well as oil and gas issues, are expected to dominate the agenda, along with the Ukraine war’s impact on the region.

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