Middle East

Israeli leader hopes summit brings Arab ties out in the open

Associated Press
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FILE - In this Feb. 21, 2018 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem. A Mideast conference, which begins Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, in Poland offers Netanyahu an opportunity to flaunt in public what he has long boasted about happening behind the scenes -- his country's improved relations with Arab countries. Several Gulf dignitaries are expected to attend in a potential show of force against uninvited Iran. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File)

FILE - In this July 29, 2018 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. A Mideast conference, which begins Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, in Poland offers Netanyahu an opportunity to flaunt in public what he has long boasted about happening behind the scenes -- his country's improved relations with Arab countries. Several Gulf dignitaries are expected to attend in a potential show of force against uninvited Iran. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, Pool, File)

The Mideast conference in Poland starting Wednesday offers Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an opportunity to flaunt in public what he has long boasted about happening behind the scenes — his country's improved relations with Arab nations.

Several Gulf dignitaries are expected to attend in a potential show of force against uninvited Iran. But the Palestinians are urging a boycott of the conference, and it remains to be seen whether Arab officials will make any public overtures to Netanyahu without a major concession to the Palestinian cause, which still animates the Arab public.

The United States and Poland are sponsoring the conference in Warsaw, which they say is aimed at promoting peace and security in the region but appears to be mainly focused on isolating Iran.