Israel's Netanyahu pays surprise visit to Oman

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday paid a surprise visit to Oman.

“The prime minister and his wife visited Oman, where they met [Omani] Sultan Qaboos bin Said,” read a statement from Netanyahu’s office.

According to the same statement, the visit -- the first by a top Israeli official since 1996 -- comes at the sultan’s invitation.

The statement goes on to describe the visit as a “significant step” towards implementing Netanyahu’s stated policy of bolstering ties -- economic and otherwise -- with “moderate” Arab states.

According to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the two leaders discussed “means of advancing the Mideast peace process and several issues of common concern”.