Sakshi Education
By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.
Israel and the two Arab states of United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed normalization agreements, officially the Abraham Accords. UAE and Bahrain became the third and the fourth Arab states respectively to formally normalize relationship with Israel. The agreement was signed at the White House in September 2020.
There will be embassies, commercial deals and the opening of travel links between the countries, some of which has already started.
Palestinians condemned the deals as they believe the moves by the Gulf countries renege on a promise by Arab states not to embrace ties with Israel until Palestinian statehood is achieved. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said peace, security and stability will not be achieved in the region until the Israeli occupation ends.
For decades, most Arab states have boycotted Israel, insisting they would only establish ties after Israel's dispute with the Palestinian was settled.
Other countries in the region are expected to follow suit, above all Saudi Arabia.
The agreements are also likely to usher in new security ties in a region where many of the Gulf Arab states share with the Israelis a common adversary in Iran.
Persuading two Arab states to engage in this kind of rapprochement with Israel - without a solution to the Palestinian question - marks a significant move for pan- Arab unity.
Seen in the context of the regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, it is a plus for the Saudi camp as the deal, mediated by Donald Trump, will fetch them US arms. The UAE and Bahrain - both allies of Saudi Arabia - have shared with Israel worries over Iran, leading to unofficial contacts in the past.
Israel lessens its regional isolation and thus may concentrate more on peace and development.
There will be embassies, commercial deals and the opening of travel links between the countries, some of which has already started.
Palestinians condemned the deals as they believe the moves by the Gulf countries renege on a promise by Arab states not to embrace ties with Israel until Palestinian statehood is achieved. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said peace, security and stability will not be achieved in the region until the Israeli occupation ends.
For decades, most Arab states have boycotted Israel, insisting they would only establish ties after Israel's dispute with the Palestinian was settled.
Other countries in the region are expected to follow suit, above all Saudi Arabia.
The agreements are also likely to usher in new security ties in a region where many of the Gulf Arab states share with the Israelis a common adversary in Iran.
Persuading two Arab states to engage in this kind of rapprochement with Israel - without a solution to the Palestinian question - marks a significant move for pan- Arab unity.
Seen in the context of the regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran, it is a plus for the Saudi camp as the deal, mediated by Donald Trump, will fetch them US arms. The UAE and Bahrain - both allies of Saudi Arabia - have shared with Israel worries over Iran, leading to unofficial contacts in the past.
Israel lessens its regional isolation and thus may concentrate more on peace and development.Published date : 27 Nov 2020 11:43AM
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