Netanyahu's Sept. 6 remark set off chatter in both ‘Israeli' and Arab media that the prime minister had met with a high-ranking officials from the Persian Gulf.
While Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the reports, Communications Minister Ayoob Kara confirmed in an interview that he himself had met with an unidentified Persian Gulf dignitary in the occupied territories last week.
Kara, a member of the Druze community, is the only Arab member of Netanyahu's cabinet and has for years acted as the Netanyahu's representative in meetings with Persian Gulf figures.
"I met with an important person from a Persian Gulf country and that's all I can say about it," Kara said in a phone interview. He wouldn't disclose the visitor's identity or say whether Netanyahu was present.
Netanyahu has frequently said that Persian Gulf Arab states no longer shun ‘Israel,' due to a shared interest in containing Iran and a desire to buy ‘Israeli' technology.
Last week, he told Foreign Ministry employees that ‘Israel' has made a "breakthrough" with Arab states. Although the cooperation remains largely secret, "what is not yet out in the open is much greater than in any other period in ‘Israeli' history," he added.
Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab states that have established diplomatic relations with ‘Israel.'
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