Increasing cooperation between Qatar and Egypt has implications for regional geopolitics and specifically for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most recently, it contributed to efforts to achieve calm between Israel and Hamas during Operation Guardian of the Walls, and was particularly significant during Operation Breaking Dawn. Enhanced coordination with Qatar was a force multiplier for Egyptian mediation in the Gaza Strip and made the influence of two countries more effective with regard to restraint of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and...
August 13, 2022 marked the second anniversary of the historic announcement of the Abraham Accords, following many weeks of rushed, clandestine diplomatic efforts. Within four months of the announcement, Israel signed diplomatic agreements with four countries. Progress to date has been systematic and rapid, and the overall picture is optimistic and promising. Nevertheless there are many remaining challenges, and there is still a long way to go before the potential of the Accords is fully realized. Civilian spheres with great actual...
In recent years a significant change, however slow and gradual, is apparent in Saudi Arabia regarding ties with Israel. While there are signs of possible compromises on its part regarding its connection with Israel, it is estimated that a possible improvement of relations would follow a different model than the Abraham Accords. Saudi Arabia chose ties with Israel as a strategic option, but in its view full normalization is expected only with progress in resolving the Palestinian issue. Any attempt to urge the kingdom to improve its...
Many Arab countries seek to improve their bargaining position vis-à-vis the United States and to expand their room for political maneuver, as reflected against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the accompanying energy crisis. In general, the goal of these Arab countries is to balance their need to maintain as close a relationship as possible with the United States, their traditional ally, with the potential benefit they see to cooperation in various areas with powers such as China and Russia. This cooperation, especially with...
Recent indications suggest that the Palestinian Authority is eager to ease tensions with some Arab Gulf states – tensions that escalated after the Abraham Accords were signed. To be sure, the poor relations and bad blood, especially between PA head Mahmoud Abbas and United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, challenge a fresh start anytime soon. Nonetheless, the recent developments, insofar as they suggest a turning point in relations between the parties, are likely to have a considerable impact on the Palestinian arena and...
Ahead of a possible visit to the Middle East by US President Joe Biden and his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Washington and Riyadh have accelerated the talks between them in an attempt to improve their relations, which have been cold ever since Biden took office. The tension between the countries has escalated against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the feeling of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that the Biden administration, in contrast to its predecessor, does not regard them as important...
The rapprochement between the Gulf states and Iraq is of economic and geostrategic importance. It allows Iraq to attract necessary investments and balance the influence of Iran, and through their involvement in Iraq, the Gulf states seek to improve their security and influence in the region. However, Iraq’s political impasse following the 2021 elections, along with the foreign involvement in its affairs, makes it difficult for it to move closer to the Arab world and function as a bridge between the Persian Gulf and Arabian Gulf....
Following a decade of tension, relations between Turkey and leading Arab countries have seen significant positive developments over the past year, led by the détente with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. While Turkey’s reversal regarding Abu Dhabi and Riyadh stemmed mainly from economic considerations, it also has geostrategic implications. The thaw between Ankara, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh bolsters the chance that the recent rapprochement between Israel and Turkey will last, because it encourages Ankara to assume a more...
The Negev Summit focused on images: The countries whose representatives took part in the meeting sought to convey a message of joint organizing for facing shared challenges. The United States also sought to demonstrate a commitment to its allies in the Middle East and to the region’s stability by attending the summit. But in practice, the region’s countries cannot prevent the finalizing of a renewed nuclear agreement with Iran and, apart from Israel, they are deterred from confronting Iran militarily; the Houthis continue to launch...
Central Arab countries that are seen as pro-Western have chosen an ostensibly neutral position regarding the war in Ukraine. Several oil producers in the Gulf have gone even further and seek to take advantage of the war to improve their standing. Even though most Arab countries still see their relations with the United States as a central element of their security, they are concerned about the reduced US attention toward the Middle East in general and their security problems in particular, and are now trying to establish a new...
Qatar’s regional and international standing has greatly improved of late. This development, a result of the country’s reconciliation agreement with a number of its Gulf neighbors and its closer ties with the United States, could affect Israel’s interests. Qatar is likely to exploit the war in Ukraine and the accompanying global energy crisis to raise its international status, especially its relations with the United States, and is already attempting to seize the opportunity to convince the US to supply it with F-35...
Notwithstanding the signing of the Abraham Accords and the growing prominence of the cooperation between Israel and the Arab Gulf states, including on security matters, the road to the establishment of a joint fighting force with Israel’s participation is still long and obstacle-ridden. Moreover, it is hard to see the possibility of any Gulf readiness to agree to such a military alliance without American involvement or leadership. Therefore, if Israel seeks to promote a regional military arrangement – even as a significant and...
