Copyright infringement is not intended

Context: In a historic first, Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett undertakes a two-day official visit to Bahrain, one of the seven Gulf countries whose relations with Israel have been sour on account of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Why is Bennett’s Bahrain visit significant?

· The visit signals the growing ties that are developing between Israel and the Gulf countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates).

· It is an outcome of ‘Abraham Accords’.

 

What is Abraham Accords’?

Introduction:

· Israel and United Arab Emirates and Bahrain had formally established diplomatic relations.

· U.A.E. and Bahrain are the third and fourth Arab countries to open diplomatic relations with Israel after Egypt and Jordan.

· USA had brokered this peace agreement to change the geopolitics of West Asia and beyond.

Key highlights

· As part of deal Israel halted annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.

· UAE and Israel signed deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and health care.

· The two countries also partnered on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

Palestine stand:

· Palestinian Authority, which seeks a two-state solution, consider the deal as a “betrayal” by the UAE

· It rejected and denounced the treaty and called it a “stabbing in the back of our people” by the UAE.

· The Israeli commitment not to annex the West Bank, is an empty concession as the deal does not address Palestinian demand for statehood.

· Under the UAE-Israel deal, Israel has not made any actual concession to the Palestinians

· Israeli enters into a peace agreement with an Arab country without returning to the 1967 borders.

· Israel gave up plan to annex the West Bank

Arab states reaction

· Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin hailed as an ally OF Trump administration is silent on the deal

· UAE could not have taken this decision on Israel without the backing and support of the House of Saud.

· Smaller Gulf States of Oman and Bahrain have quickly fallen in line behind UAE.

Impact on geopolitics

· If all Arab states do fall in line, it would bring all Sunni nations in the region in an anti-Iran alliance.

· Deal send ripples in other parts of the world. It put pressure on Muslim dominated Pakistan.

· European powers and India, have welcomed it, while Turkey and Iran have lashed out at the UAE.

Israel-Egypt peace deal

· Israel and Arab states fought 1956 Suez conflict, the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

· Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip from Egypt, East Jerusalem and the West Bank from Jordan and the Golan Heights from Syria

·  Arab countries declared three “‘Nos’ — no peace with Israel, no talks with Israel and no recognition of Israel”.

·  American pressure led to David Accords of 1978, Israel withdrew from Sinai in return for Egyptian recognition.

Isarel-Jorden peace deal

· In 1994, with Washington Declaration, Jordan became the second Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel.

· Jordan abandoned its claims to the West Bank and accepted Oslo Accord

· Under Oslo Accords, Palestine Liberation Organization recognised Israel and was allowed to form Palestinian Authority in West Bank and Gaza.

Other implications

· This agreement could fast-track the peace process in Middle East's and Gulf countries

· Saudi bloc, are aligning with that of the U.S. and Israel and their support for Palestine, is dwindling

· Turkey and Iran has emerged as the new strongest supporters of the Palestinians in the Muslim world.
This tripolar contest is already at work in West Asia. The UAE-Israel thaw could sharpen it further.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/naftali-bennett-israel-bahrain-ties-7776221/

Download PDF