Summary
The United Arab Emirates doesn't even formally recognize that Israel exists.
But an impromptu bit of dinner diplomacy between Israel's prime minister and a prominent Emirati ambassador sheds light on one of the worst-kept secrets in the Arab world: the quiet ties between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors that are increasingly coming out in the open as they find common cause against mutual foe Iran.
The Israeli and Emirati embassies in Washington declined to comment.
Driving the shift -- until recently unimaginable in the Arab world -- is a growing alignment between Israel and the Sunni Arab nations against Iran, the Shiite-led nation that Israel considers an existential threat.
Those leaders may have some common ground with the Israelis, but the Palestinian issue remains a deeply emotional cause throughout the Arab world and would constrain them from going too far in their relations with Israel unless there is a resolution. While Israel and the U.S. have sidelined the Palestinian issue, these behind-the-scenes ties are likely to continue, and may be enough for Israel's own strategic needs.
Israeli businessmen quietly operate in the UAE.
Its foreign minister, Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, stunned Israelis and Arabs this past week when he tweeted support for Israel's self-defense after Israel retaliated for an Iranian rocket barrage by attacking suspected Iranian targets in Syria,
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