Behind the Silence: Oman and Israel’s Discreet Relationship

Oman

In a region often marked by sharply defined diplomatic positions, Oman has, for several decades, developed a distinctive approach toward Israel: cautious, pragmatic, and often discreet. Without official diplomatic relations, the sultanate has nonetheless established itself as one of the few Gulf states to maintain open channels of communication with the Jewish state, combining dialogue, regional mediation, and geopolitical calculation.

An old but rarely public relationship

Contacts between Oman and Israel are not new. As early as the 1970s, informal relations existed between the two countries. But it was in the mid-1990s that these ties became visible. In 1994, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin visited Muscat, marking a historic first in relations between Israel and a Gulf country. Two years later, Israel and Oman opened trade representation offices in their respective capitals.

These offices, which function almost like small embassies without full diplomatic status, then symbolized the hope of a new era of regional cooperation after the Oslo Accords. However, this momentum was abruptly interrupted in 2000 when the sultanate decided to close these representations following the outbreak of the Second Intifada, under pressure from Arab public opinion.

Despite this official break, channels of communication between the two countries never completely disappeared. Oman’s foreign policy has long been based on one principle: to engage in dialogue with all actors, even when relations are sensitive. This strategy, shaped by former ruler Qaboos bin Said, aims to position Oman as a credible mediator in the Middle East. Within this framework, contacts with Israel remain regularly active, but often out of the spotlight. The most notable episode occurred in October 2018, when Netanyahu traveled to Muscat to meet Sultan Qaboos.

This surprise visit, the first by an Israeli leader to the country in more than twenty years, demonstrates the persistence of discreet dialogue between the two states. The Omani Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, had then summarized the sultanate’s position: Israel is “a state present in the region,” and it is necessary to work toward a sustainable political solution between Israelis and Palestinians.

A cautious normalization

Unlike the Abraham Accords signed in 2020 by several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Oman has not taken the step of diplomatic normalization with Israel.

The sultanate has nonetheless welcomed these agreements, considering that they could contribute to a regional dynamic of peace, while recalling that any full normalization should be accompanied by progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state.

This position illustrates Omani diplomatic policy: to support initiatives for dialogue while maintaining a certain political distance. Beyond the political dimension, relations between Oman and Israel are generating growing interest in the economic and technological fields. Israel is recognized for its innovation ecosystem, particularly in the sectors of cybersecurity, agriculture in arid environments, and water technologies — areas that are particularly relevant for a desert country like Oman.

As early as the 1990s, technological and commercial exchanges had already begun to emerge between the two countries. Today, several analysts believe that these forms of cooperation could develop in the future in sectors such as agricultural technologies, water management, or renewable energy.

Oman

A strategic regional role

Oman’s position is also explained by its geography and its diplomatic role in the region. Located at the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategic maritime passages in the world, the sultanate has always favored a policy of neutrality and dialogue with all regional powers. Muscat has thus distinguished itself as a mediator in several sensitive international issues, notably between Iran and Western powers in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program.

This ability to speak with all parties — including Israel — constitutes one of the pillars of Omani diplomacy.

Between political caution, discreet dialogue, and an ambition for regional mediation, Oman embodies a rare form of diplomacy in the Middle East: that of balance.

While full normalization with Israel is not on the agenda in the short term, relations between the two countries demonstrate that beyond regional tensions, some states favor open channels of communication, sometimes invisible but often decisive.

Caroline Haïat