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Israel Steps Up Intelligence Sharing with Gulf Countries
(Wall Street Journal) Jay Solomon - Israel and Gulf countries have secretly stepped-up intelligence sharing, particularly focused on Iranian arms shipments to proxy militias fighting in Yemen and Syria, according to U.S., European and Middle East officials. "Israel has developed cutting-edge technology that allows us to detect terrorist plots in advance," said Israel's Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz, a close aide to Prime Minister Netanyahu. "This enables us to help moderate Arab governments protect themselves." Israel in recent months has shared intelligence with a Saudi-led coalition that is fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to former U.S. officials. Last year, alarm bells went off in Israel when an Iranian ship being tracked by Israeli security services began navigating toward Yemen's coast. Israeli intelligence indicated it was loaded with weapons for the Houthis. The Israelis "got us to act, successfully," said one former U.S. official. Israel also shares intelligence derived from drones and human agents with Cairo in its fight against Islamic State militias fighting in Sinai. Security and technology companies with ties to Israel are also helping Gulf states.