Negev Forum working groups in Abu Dhabi

 
The meeting of the Negev Forum steering committee opened this morning in Abu Dhabi, with the participation of delegations from the six member countries: the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, USA and Israel. six countries will meet following an increase in tensions in Jerusalem after a controversial visit by Israel's new national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to Al Aqsa mosque compound. 

In March last year, the six nations agreed to form six working groups — on regional security, energy, food and water security, health, education and tolerance, and tourism — aimed at forging closer ties.

Senior officials from the six participating countries last met in June in Bahrain to discuss the next steps after the inaugural Negev Summit was held in March last year.