A high-level delegation from Israel and the United Arab Emirates, mediated by the United States, will sign a landmark peace agreement at the White House today.
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| Israel's national security adviser leaves for UAE on historic flight September 1 |
The Foreign Minister of Bahrain will also attend the event. There, Bahrain will announce the establishment of normal relations with Israel. That's what President Trump said last week.
The BBC's Middle East correspondent Jeremy Bowen analyzes five key reasons why the peace deal is important:
1. The Gulf countries see the potential for trade and much more:
This agreement will help aspiring emirates. The UAE has established itself as a military power in the Gulf region. Their country has become a major center of trade, commerce, and tourism.
The United States appears to have persuaded the United Arab Emirates of the peace deal by promising state-of-the-art weapons. In the past, such armaments were beyond the reach of the UAE, they could only dream of buying such armaments. Such weapons include F-35 fighter jets and EA-18G Groller electronic warplanes.
The UAE military is well-equipped. They have sent troops to fight in Libya and Yemen. But their biggest enemy is Iran. That country on the opposite side of the bay.
Just as the United Arab Emirates views Iran with suspicion, so do Israel and the United States. Bahrain also suspects Iran. Until 1969, Iran claimed Bahrain as part of its territory. The rulers of Bahrain are Sunni. But the majority of the country's people are Shia. So the Sunni rulers consider these Shiites to be Iran's potential 'fifth column' or 'terrible enemy of the house'.
These two Gulf states, however, rarely care about their relations with Israel. Now they are looking forward to opening trade with Israel. Israel is one of the most technologically powerful advanced countries in the world.
When the Kovid epidemic did not exist, the Israelis traveled extensively on vacation. So they will be eager to go to the deserts, beaches, and shopping malls of the Gulf countries. So maybe it's a good business opportunity for both sides.
2. Israel's loneliness in the Middle East will decrease:
The normalization of relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain is a great achievement for Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes in the "Iron Wall" strategy between their Jewish state and the Arab states. This strategy was first mentioned in the 1920s.
The essence of this strategy is that Israel must be strong enough for the Arabs to finally understand that there is no other way but to acknowledge the existence of Israel.
But Israel does not want to be isolated in the Middle East again. It is true that there have been peace agreements with Egypt and Jordan, but relations have never been warmer. But Israel maybe a little more optimistic about its relations with the Gulf states. Because these countries are far away from Jerusalem and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
And there is the matter of strengthening the alliance against Iran. Mr. Netanyahu thinks Iran is his country's number one enemy. At times, he even compared Iran's leaders to the Nazis. On the other hand, he has suppressed his objections to a possible arms deal with the United Arab Emirates.
But Mr. Netanyahu is mired in domestic politics. He has been charged with corruption, which could lead to his trial. He can go to jail. He got off to a good start in dealing with the coronavirus epidemic, but then things went awry. Opposition groups called for a halt to the protests, which took place outside his residence in Jerusalem.
Therefore, the signing of such a peace agreement at the White House at such a difficult time seems to have been a blessing for him.
3. A huge success for Donald Trump's foreign policy:
The deal is important for President Donald Trump for a number of reasons.
Mr. Donald Trump believes in maximum pressure against Iran. This peace agreement will further strengthen his support for that strategy. And it is also a great weapon for him in the election year. He has always boasted that he is the biggest "deal-maker" in the world.
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