Publications

Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have initiated a process that, if it comes to fruition, will bring about the normalization of relations between the two countries. The media frenzy that started with the Aug. 13 joint announcement focused on the dividends that Israel, the UAE, and the region will reap from the formalizing of relations between the two countries. When the potential pitfalls were discussed, they focused on Israel freezing West Bank annexation and the possibility that the UAE will be allowed to acquire the F-35 advanced fighter jet, which could erode Israel’s qualitative military edge (QME). The broader geostrategic challenges that the agreement could pose for Israel and the UAE have not been part of the public discourse, however, and any balanced treatment requires a discussion of those aspects as well. This is not to take away from the importance of the development, but rather to provide a more comprehensive view of the potential implications of normalization in order to better prepare for them.