Anik Ahmed :
Bahrain announced its decision to normalize relations with Israel on September 15, following the UAE that claimed signing a peace deal with Israel about a month ago. The agreement reached between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa brokered by US President Donald Trump termed as a ‘dawn in the new Middle East’ and formally called “Abraham Deal”.
After Israel’s inception in 1948, the UAE and Bahrain recognized Israel as the third and fourth Gulf state, respectively. Egypt and Jordan were the only countries in the Middle East to formally recognize Israel before the UAE and Bahrain. They signed peace agreements with Israel in 1986 and 1994. Mauritania, a member of the Arab League in northwest Africa, established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1999 but severed ties in 2010.
However, the UAE has defended itself, saying that normalizing relations between Israel and Muslim countries would create an opportunity for the peace process to be implemented and that Israel would no longer be able to settle unilaterally in Palestine. This diplomatic relations will help establish an independent Palestinian state, as UAE explained.
But the geo-political experts opined that these agreements to put pressure on Israel to recognize Palestinian state and stop illegal settlements will not create any sense. However, Israel has already suspended the annexation process following warnings from EU sanctions.
According to some reports in the Israeli and international media, the annexation process is still at the negotiating table of Israel’s political leadership. In some news, these talks are currently closed. Whatever the truth, the reality is that the plan has not escaped the thinking of the occupying Israeli leadership. Israel’s planned acquisition must begin again today or tomorrow.
However, the real winner of the deal is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been accused of corruption in his country. This is a very rare case for Israel. As whatever the Prime Minister of Israel, the army and the intelligence agency Mossad do, is recognised as perfect. Generally it is believed that everything is done in the name of making Israel stronger and more rigid. But thousands of Israelis are now protesting Netanyahu on the streets of Tel Aviv ignoring the Covid-19.
If the allegations of corruption are proven, Netanyahu will not only lose his prime ministership, but also he could even go to jail. Not only corruption, but war crimes charges can be filed against Netanyahu. However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into war crimes against Israeli officials in December last year. This move by the ICC is very uncomfortable for both Israel and Netanyahu. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has been accused of inciting racism and failing to manage the Covid-19. He is not even able to take advantage of the campaign ahead of the November elections.
All in all, the popularity of Trump and Netanyahu is now ebbing. Only the tide of popularity can bring them back to their old form. But it will not be easy to gain the confidence of the citizens again for their deeds. But small initiatives by Arab leaders could change the situation, if there is any way to prove that Arab leaders are with Israel. This Arab initiative will not only give Trump and Netanyahu a strong foothold in world politics, but will also give them a new impetus in domestic politics.
Palestinian leaders have already described the deal as a betrayal. There was a consensus among the Arab countries for many years. That is, normal relations with Israel can only be achieved through the independence of Palestine. But as the Palestinians spend their miserable days in the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, imprisoned in open prisons in Gaza, Israel is strengthening its ties with these Arab states.
In other words, the Arab leadership is giving priority to gaining power against the rival Iran-alliance rather than protecting the interests of Palestine. The Middle East has a long history of regional conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia sees the recent rapprochement between Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and possibly Qatar in the Middle East as a new “axis of power.” Israel-UAE deal could open up U.S. weapons sales to the Gulf kingdom. Such weapons include F-35 fighter jets and EA-16G Growler electronic warplanes, etc.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia wants to reduce its dependence on crude oil. They are trying to find alternative export sectors. Unemployment problem is also on the rise in the country. So, Saudi feels the need to be trusted by the United States and the Western world to keep its economy afloat and strong. Many feel that the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the Israelis is only a matter of time. So the eyes of the whole world are now fixed on Saudi Arabia.
Bahrain announced its decision to normalize relations with Israel on September 15, following the UAE that claimed signing a peace deal with Israel about a month ago. The agreement reached between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa brokered by US President Donald Trump termed as a ‘dawn in the new Middle East’ and formally called “Abraham Deal”.
After Israel’s inception in 1948, the UAE and Bahrain recognized Israel as the third and fourth Gulf state, respectively. Egypt and Jordan were the only countries in the Middle East to formally recognize Israel before the UAE and Bahrain. They signed peace agreements with Israel in 1986 and 1994. Mauritania, a member of the Arab League in northwest Africa, established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1999 but severed ties in 2010.
However, the UAE has defended itself, saying that normalizing relations between Israel and Muslim countries would create an opportunity for the peace process to be implemented and that Israel would no longer be able to settle unilaterally in Palestine. This diplomatic relations will help establish an independent Palestinian state, as UAE explained.
But the geo-political experts opined that these agreements to put pressure on Israel to recognize Palestinian state and stop illegal settlements will not create any sense. However, Israel has already suspended the annexation process following warnings from EU sanctions.
According to some reports in the Israeli and international media, the annexation process is still at the negotiating table of Israel’s political leadership. In some news, these talks are currently closed. Whatever the truth, the reality is that the plan has not escaped the thinking of the occupying Israeli leadership. Israel’s planned acquisition must begin again today or tomorrow.
However, the real winner of the deal is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been accused of corruption in his country. This is a very rare case for Israel. As whatever the Prime Minister of Israel, the army and the intelligence agency Mossad do, is recognised as perfect. Generally it is believed that everything is done in the name of making Israel stronger and more rigid. But thousands of Israelis are now protesting Netanyahu on the streets of Tel Aviv ignoring the Covid-19.
If the allegations of corruption are proven, Netanyahu will not only lose his prime ministership, but also he could even go to jail. Not only corruption, but war crimes charges can be filed against Netanyahu. However, the International Criminal Court (ICC) launched an investigation into war crimes against Israeli officials in December last year. This move by the ICC is very uncomfortable for both Israel and Netanyahu. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has been accused of inciting racism and failing to manage the Covid-19. He is not even able to take advantage of the campaign ahead of the November elections.
All in all, the popularity of Trump and Netanyahu is now ebbing. Only the tide of popularity can bring them back to their old form. But it will not be easy to gain the confidence of the citizens again for their deeds. But small initiatives by Arab leaders could change the situation, if there is any way to prove that Arab leaders are with Israel. This Arab initiative will not only give Trump and Netanyahu a strong foothold in world politics, but will also give them a new impetus in domestic politics.
Palestinian leaders have already described the deal as a betrayal. There was a consensus among the Arab countries for many years. That is, normal relations with Israel can only be achieved through the independence of Palestine. But as the Palestinians spend their miserable days in the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, imprisoned in open prisons in Gaza, Israel is strengthening its ties with these Arab states.
In other words, the Arab leadership is giving priority to gaining power against the rival Iran-alliance rather than protecting the interests of Palestine. The Middle East has a long history of regional conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia sees the recent rapprochement between Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and possibly Qatar in the Middle East as a new “axis of power.” Israel-UAE deal could open up U.S. weapons sales to the Gulf kingdom. Such weapons include F-35 fighter jets and EA-16G Growler electronic warplanes, etc.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia wants to reduce its dependence on crude oil. They are trying to find alternative export sectors. Unemployment problem is also on the rise in the country. So, Saudi feels the need to be trusted by the United States and the Western world to keep its economy afloat and strong. Many feel that the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s relationship with the Israelis is only a matter of time. So the eyes of the whole world are now fixed on Saudi Arabia.
(Mr. Anik is a student at Department of Law, University of Rajshahi. Email: [email protected])
