After Palestinian leader Abbas visited Oman last week, Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by the head of the Mossad intelligence agency and his national security adviser, also met with Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said on a strategic and historical visit.  During the meeting, the leaders discussed the Middle East peace process, in which the sultanate has intention to play a key role. The meeting, reflecting growing relations between Israel and Gulf Countries, which so far have rather limited diplomatic ties, is understood by some analysts as an attempt to control Iran’s influence in the region. In fact, Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Bassam Ghasemi, stated: “This regime [Israel] seeks to create divisions between Muslim countries and obscure 70 years of usurpation, rape and killing of the oppressed Palestinians.” Bin Alawi, responsible for Oman’s foreign affairs, stated: “Israel is a state present in the region, and we all understand this, the world is also aware of this fact and maybe it is time for Israel to be treated the same and also bear the same obligations.” Netanyahu seized the opportunity to highlight Israel’s advantages in security, technology and economy.