On Tuesday, United States (US) President Donald Trump, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the much-awaited Abraham Accords Declaration to finalize the normalization of diplomatic ties between Tel Aviv and the Gulf states, doubling the number of Arab states who share bilateral relations with the Jewish nation.
The event, which was held at the White House, was attended by more than 700 people, including senior US representatives and senators. The accord is being noted as an achievement of the Trump administration even by its critics, who have acknowledged the President’s central role in heralding a possible geopolitical shift in the region. However, unlike Trump’s claims, the agreement cannot be looked at as a “peace” treaty since neither of the states has been engaged in war--rather, Israel has been quietly conducting backroom trade and diplomacy with both Arab governments for years now. At the same time, however, the normalization of relations and the official recognition of Israel by the Abu Dhabi and Manama establishes a huge step forward for trade, tourism, healthcare, and security ties for all three countries. Further, the accord formalizes the establishment of embassies, opening up of commercial air routes, and access to Israeli intelligence, technology, and markets for the Gulf economies.
“This new vision, which is beginning to take shape as we meet today for the future of a region full of youthful energy, is not a slogan that we raise for political gain, as everyone looks forward to creating a more stable, prosperous, and secure future,” Sheikh Abdullah said at the event.
After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East. Congratulations to the people of Israel, the people of the United Arab Emirates, and the people of the Kingdom of Bahrain. God Bless You All! pic.twitter.com/gpeqFDtr0S
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2020
Palestine, however, has rejected and protested the deals, with opposing factions coming together to show a united front against the US’ efforts. For decades, its pressure campaign for the creation of an independent state has balanced on the rejection of diplomatic recognition of the Israeli state by Arab countries. While the lead-up to the accords did include Netanyahu saying that his administration would be suspending its plans to unilaterally annex the West Bank territory, Jewish settlements continue to illegally occupy these areas. Further, Netanyahu was already facing domestic and international resistance against the annexation plans, and a suspension of the move does not necessarily mean that it will be nixing its ambitions for good.
While Trump and Netanyahu have suggested that another “seven to nine” Arab countries will be following suit to normalize ties with Israel, including Saudi Arabia, Riyadh has consistently maintained a refusal to recognize Israel until Palestinian peace is achieved. The move is being seen as a win, not just for Trump’s foreign policy in the Middle East—the unification of Gulf states with Israel creates a regional bloc against US adversary Iran—but also for his campaign for the upcoming US elections.
Simultaneously, just a few hours before the deal was signed, Trump said in an interview with Fox News that he would have “no problem” selling F-35 fighter jets to the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries due to the amassing wealth that they have to offer in exchange, despite Netanyahu’s concerns and fears that the sale of advanced fighter equipment to these states would undermine Israel’s military superiority in the region. An Axios report released last month insinuated that the normalization accord was intrinsically linked to the F-35 sale, adding that the military deal is a “top priority” for the Emiratis. “They (UAE) were particularly angry that he (Netanyahu) told members of his Cabinet that he would raise his concerns about the deal with members of Congress,” the report said.