Background
The history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict began with the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. So far Israel has been able to establish relations with only two Arab countries i.e. Egypt, which signed a peace agreement in 1979, and Jordan, which signed a treaty in 1994.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates reached a landmark tripartite accord sealed by President Trump on Thursday that could presage a broader realignment in the region as the two agreed to “full normalization of relations” in exchange for Israel suspending annexation of occupied West Bank territory. Mr Trump suggested that more diplomatic breakthroughs between Israel and its Muslim neighbors in the region were expected. Accordingly Israeli and UAE delegations are expected to meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security and the establishment of reciprocal embassies, they said.
Reaction from both sides of the spectrum
The agreement generated an immediate backlash in the region from opposite sides of the ideological spectrum. Some Israeli settlers and their political allies were disappointed that Mr. Netanyahu would give up his plan to claim sovereignty over West Bank territory, while Palestinians felt abandoned by an Arab nation leaving them to remain locked in an untenable status quo even without the threat of annexation. Palestinian leaders have long opposed normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states because it would legitimize the continuing occupation.
Political Gains for Mr Trump
The deal gave Mr. Trump a much-welcomed breakthrough at a time when he has been struggling at home with a deadly pandemic and economic collapse amid a re-election contest that polls show he is losing. Both Israel and the Emirates, each for its own reasons, were happy to credit Mr. Trump to advance their positions in Washington, and the president plans to stage a celebratory White House signing ceremony in coming weeks.
Changing Power Dynamics in the Gulf
The rapprochement underscored the shifting political dynamics of a region where Sunni Arab states increasingly see Iran as a greater enemy than Israel and are less willing to condition relations on a resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians. More Gulf States could follow the Emirates in formalizing relations with Israel, but the big player remains Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s richest country and caretaker of the Islamic holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Analysts said they suspected that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, would like to take such a step but will refrain given conservative elements in his country.