YEREVAN. – Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to establish relationships with as many Muslim countries as possible, including Azerbaijan, American expert on the Middle East Alon Ben-Meir says.

“I do not believe there is any connection between Prime Minister Netanyahu's travel to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, and the Iranian leader's visit to Armenia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Netanyahu is determined to establish relationships with as many Muslim countries as possible, and in so doing is trying to marginalize the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the expert said in response to Armenian News-NEWS.am request to comment on Netanyahu’s visits last December.

Ben-Meir, professor and Senior Fellow at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute, explained that growing number of Muslim states have interests in establishing relations with Israel, to benefit from Israel’s advancements in technology and weapons.

Asked about the reasons for normalization of relations between Israel and another Muslim country – Turkey, Ben-Meir replied: “The rapprochement between Turkey and Israel is based entirely on mutuality of interests—neither side trusts the other, and both agreed to set aside their differences and   expand economic and trade relations from which they can both benefit.”