Foreign ministers from three Arab countries are taking part in a historic summit in Israel on Sunday attended by the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The participation of the representatives from the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Moroco is a further indication of growing Israeli-Arab ties following the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020.

The foreign minister of Egypt is also scheduled to join the talks in Sde Boker in the Negev where the regional threat posed by Iran will be high on the agenda.

The USA is seen as close to agreeing a new deal with Iran which would see sanctions lifted in return for halting its programme to develop a nuclear weapons capability.

But Israel fears the deal would leave the Iranian regime with more freedom to pursue military activities in the Middle East.

In a press conference on Sunday, Mr Blinken said Israel and the USA saw “eye to eye” on the need to prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb. 

But he stated that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was the best way forward. The original JCPOA to curb Iranian nuclear ambitions was agreed in 2015 but President Trump pulled out of it three years later.

According to the Times of Israel, Mr Blinken said, “The US will continue to stand up to Iran when it threatens us or when it threatens our allies and partners.”

The Secretary of State is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and see Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas during a five day visit to the Middle East.