By Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan (Sinologist, ex-Diplomat, Editor, Analyst)
Less than a month, UAE is ended up in a deep crisis after recognizing the State of Israel formally.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Jewish State of Israel struck a peace deal, also known as a peace agreement, or the Abraham Accord, on 13 August 2020. It was agreed that the State of Israel would not annex the West Bank and other parts of Arab Lands, and UAE nationals will have free access to holy places in Jerusalem and will be allowed for worship and religious rituals.
The Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anwar Gargash, said that his country wanted to resolve the threats incrustation the two-state solution, specifical annexation of the Palestinian lands, and advising the Palestinians and Israelis to return to the talking table.
The UAE said it would persist in supporting the Palestinian people and that the agreement would uphold the prospect of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Despite the deal, however, Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Israel’s sovereignty claim to the Jordan Valley still remains valid agenda and only frozen for the time being. UAE was betrayed!
The UAE is the third Arab country, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994, to formally normalize its relationship with the State of Israel, as well as the first Persian Gulf country to do so. Egypt was kicked out 22-national Arab League for signing a peace deal with the State of Israel, and Jordan’s action was also not welcomed by the Arab World.
Israel’s foreign minister, Mr. Israel Katz, made a public declaration about military cooperation with the UAE amidst rising tensions with Iran. The UAE, for the first time, established communication links to Israel by unblocking direct dialing to Israel’s +972 country code. The first-ever formal direct commercial flight from Israel to the UAE took place on 31 August 2020.
There were frequent consultations ongoing among Oil-Rich Gulf states of GCC and built consensus to establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish State. It was supposed that UAE would be the first country to declare the recognition of Jewish State and the other GCC countries will follow. However, during the Secretary of State Pompeo’s visit or Jared Kushner’s visit, the situation became completely different and opposite. Other GCC countries have not normalized their relations with Jewish State. UAE was betrayed.
It seems, UAE is facing isolation on this issue, and all other Arab countries have changed their mind. Even within the UAE, they are encountering resistance to some extent. The conservatives and religious communities are giving a tough time to the rulers. Of course, there also exists a liberal class in the UAE, who might be supporting.
UAE is losing its reputation in the Arab world and the Islamic world. Kuwait’s long-standing position on the issue became prominent after the announcement. A joint statement was the announcement by seven movements in the Assembly belonging to Liberals, Shi’ites, Islamists, and Arabists, in addition to other blocs who condemned the treaty.
Out of a total 50, 41 Members of Parliament signed a letter opposing normalization the day parliament was reconvened, and a protest was organized in front of the Palestinian embassy in Kuwait City. Several NGOs also issued similar statements. Iran, the worst adversary of Isreal, has threatened UAE for consequences. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain clarified to visiting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that he is committed to the creation of a Palestinian state, implicitly rejecting the normalization of ties with Israel.
The Grand-Mufti of Oman, Ahmed bin Hamad al-Khalili, indirectly criticized the treaty. The hashtag trend “Normalisation is Treason” started trending after the deal announcement, particularly among young Saudi activists. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told that his country would not establish diplomatic relations until peace is signed with the Palestinians, hopefully within the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative.
Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud expressed that the pre-requisite for normalizing relations with the State of Israel is the creation of a sovereign independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its formal capital. He further said that any Arab country that wants to follow the UAE’s footsteps should insist on the strict condition for peace from Israel in the future. Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, said that Pakistan would never recognize Israel until a Palestinian state is created, irrespective of what another country does, a statement in line with the vision of Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He further added that one needs to think of the injustices suffered by Palestinians before trying to normalize relations with Israel.
As repercussions, the UAE is in deep crisis and facing criticism from all other Arab and Muslim nations. UAE was trapped and may repent.
Autor: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinólogo (ex Diplomático), Editor, Analista, Miembro No Residente de CCG (Centro para China y Globalización), Universidad Nacional de Ciencias y Tecnología (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistán.
(The views expressed in this article belong only to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy or views of World Geostrategic Insights).