In a recent announcement, the US President revealed that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties. The agreement also includes a commitment to halt the annexation of land sought by Palestinians for their future state. Both the UAE and Israel are close allies of the US in West Asia.
The UAE’s Historic Move
In a significant move, the UAE is now the first Gulf Arab State, and only the third Arab nation, to establish active diplomatic ties with Israel. The previous two were Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Under the newly formed deal, Israel has agreed to suspend its plans to annex significant parts of the occupied West Bank.
About West Bank
The West Bank, primarily located between Israel and Jordan, is home to one of the major cities, Ramallah, which serves as the administrative capital of Palestine. Israel gained control over it during the six-day Arab-Israeli war in 1967 and has settled in the region progressively since then.
Planned Collaborations
Following the historic agreement, a joint statement was issued by the USA, the UAE, and Israel. It outlined that delegations would soon meet to sign deals encompassing various sectors including direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism, and healthcare. They also plan to partner in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trigger for the Move
It remains uncertain what led Israel and the UAE to announce this agreement at this point. However, in June 2020, the UAE’s Ambassador to the USA had cautioned that Israel’s intent to annex the Jordan Valley and other regions of the occupied West Bank could potentially disrupt Israel’s efforts to strengthen its ties with Arab nations.
The UAE’s Background
The UAE, formed in 1971, is a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. The federation has long been associated with the USA but has never formally recognized Israel due to its occupation of Palestinian land. The UAE has consistently advocated for the creation of a Palestinian state on the land seized by Israel in the 1967 war.
Shift in Ties
In recent years, ties between Gulf Arab nations and Israel have grown due to their shared animosity towards Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The UAE also shares Israel’s distrust for Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip.
Impact on UAE, Israel and USA
For the UAE, the agreement bolsters its international image as a beacon of tolerance in the Middle East. It also puts the UAE at the forefront of a regional recognition race among neighbouring Gulf Arab states. For Israel, it provides a domestic reinforcement for the Israeli Prime Minister’s claims of stronger ties with Arab nations than previously known. For the USA, it gives President Donald Trump a diplomatic triumph ahead of the November election.
Implications for Palestine
The agreement has both positive and negative implications for Palestinians. While it stalls Israeli annexation plans, it could potentially undermine the Palestinian cause as they have consistently urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement is reached recognizing an independent Palestinian state.
The Way Forward
The historic deal signifies a critical stride towards peace in the Middle East. The opening of direct ties between two dynamic societies with advanced economies is expected to propel economic growth, enhance technological innovation, and nurture closer people-to-people relations in the region.