In recent weeks, tensions in Israel-Palestine have intensified and Israeli forces have launched another deadly offensive in Gaza. The invasion, as well as the threat of expulsion of Palestinians from East Jash Sheikh Jarrah and the Israeli invasion of the Al-Aqsa mosque during Ramadan, which led to the Palestinian protests, are all headlines in the 73-year-old Nakba Palestinian capital.
But these developments also show the failure of the formal agreements – called the Abraham Accords – between the four Arab states and Israel ended in 2020. These agreements were widely publicized to promote peace in the Middle East and re-establish policies to promote Israel in Palestine. But he has proved to be a failure in all of this.
How did the settlement come about?
The announcement of a stable relationship with Israel was fulfilled in promises to help bring peace to the Middle East, prevent Israel from invading other parts of the West Bank, and open the door to economic development for all in the region. But what has happened since then has confirmed that the deal was just a business venture run by former US President Donald Trump, who did all he could to meet the demands of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A major consequence of what has happened is that the United Arab Emirates should be a major business center in Israel after the auspices of the Arab era over decades of Zionist rule. Abu Dhabi has announced plans to invest in Israeli artisanal manufacturing, manufacturing, health care, and agriculture, among other sectors. Most importantly, the two countries will join forces in developing a war. The UAE, like other Arab countries, has already acquired Israeli surveillance technology, drones, and air defense equipment. Although the Emirate opposed the occupation of Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, it has begun to allow goods from illegal Jewish areas – so-called “from the land of Israel” – to be sold in its markets.
Economic ties between Bahrain and Israel also need to grow. The Israeli government is already showing an increase in $ 220m in non-military trade with Manama in 2021, and also hopes to sell arms and security.
No major trade is expected from the agreement with Sudan and Morocco, but the two countries are still expected to benefit from their US-backed success. Khartoum was removed from the US terrorist list, which would help the poorest country to access credit and finance, while Rabat was endorsed by Washington as the dominant Western Sahara dictator, which had sought since the 1970s.
None of these things have changed what has happened in the Middle East, especially in Palestine, as shown in the last few weeks.
Israel continues to play a role in the purification of Palestinian nations. With the help of police and state anti-Semitic government laws, Israeli authorities are continuing their campaign to oust Palestine from East Jerusalem, while several families are threatened with eviction from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah area.
Israel continues to suppress Palestinian religious freedom. Late at night, Israeli police harassed worshipers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the month of Ramadan and detonated bombs and smoke bombs in al-Haram al-Sharif. Israeli forces also persecute Palestinian Christians and prevent others from attending the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to celebrate Easter.
Israeli rights groups, strengthened by their alliance with Netanyahu, have also intensified the persecution of Palestinians. Some of them traveled to Jerusalem chanting “death to the Arabs” during Ramadan. Their violence spread to mixed cities within the Green Line where they attacked Palestinian homes, motorists, and pedestrians. Angered by the Palestinians, he was protected by Israeli police, who also confirmed that Palestinians in Israel were second citizens. This was made possible by the enactment of the “Jewish Nation-State Law” in 2018 which completely transformed Israel as a violent country.
Finally, Israeli violence in Gaza does not appear to be declining. Last week he launched his third campaign in a 10-year siege. By the time of writing, more than 200 people have been killed in Gaza, including 59 children, and more than 1,000 injured. Thirteen other Palestinians have been killed in clashes with a military force in the West Bank.
Flat rate
It is difficult to see how the Arab states that changed relations with Israel would say that their goal was to bring peace to the Middle East. Events over the past few weeks show their complete failure on any outcome. In fact, he could face public turmoil and break his integrity following the Israeli invasion of Al-Aqsa and the bloody invasion of Gaza.
The Arab people repeatedly showed their commitment to the cause of Palestine. In the final Arab Opinion Index of 2019-2020, which took place in 13 Arab countries representing nearly 300 million people, 88% of respondents rejected the idea of establishing a relationship with Israel. Seventy-nine percent say Palestine is still a major problem for all Arabs. In Sudan, 79% of respondents said they were opposed to relations with Israel before Palestinian independence was protected.
In the face of the atrocities taking place in Israel, the Arab people remain committed to defending Palestine and Jerusalem, including people from four allied countries. But what continues to be an obstacle to public display of solidarity with the Arab political power that prevents the expression of popular interests. In fact, it is difficult to express anti-Israeli sentiments in the UAE as the Emirati ambassador to Tel Aviv writes words of thanks to Israel on their day of “independence”, which marked the beginning of the Palestinian Nakba and their 1948 capture.
Considering the signs of the people and what Israel is doing, it is difficult to see how the stability associated with Israel could be different from what would affect Palestine from the peace that exists between Israel and Egypt and the whole of Jordan. Aside from establishing family ties and small business transactions, the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty of 1979 and the 1994 Jordanian-Israeli Treaty did not disrupt public opinion or strengthen the transition to power. Instead, the fifth connection between Israel and Jordan is a reminder to all that the Zionist state cannot ignore their demands to maintain good relations with any Arab state.
Israel is unlikely to try to protect all the Arab states that have joined it. One of the issues raised by Trump’s administration was an alliance against Iran. Since Israel has been pushing for the expansion and establishment of its colonial occupation in Palestine, it has no reason to support any Arab state. Israel has always defended itself and will not fight Iran instead of the Arabs.
Stability does not offer any more shares in Washington, after the Trump period ends. It is true that Biden’s management sees itself as the protector of Israel, but it is clear that they do not want to reward Israeli “new friends” as planned. The US Congress could continue to suspend the UAE’s F-35 alliance and the political turmoil surrounding the parties could force it to reverse its US recognition of Moroccan sovereignty in Western Sahara.
It also appears that Saudi Arabia – the final victory sought by Trump and Netanyahu – should not follow in the footsteps of the UAE. The Zionist regime’s invasion of Palestine and the violation of Muslim sanctuaries in Jerusalem have led to a change in Saudi Arabia. While Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is working to re-establish his image nationally, regionally, and globally, any form of self-determination could rob him of something important in his laws.
As the Palestinian Jerusalem struggles to maintain the city and Gaza condemns the Israeli insurgency, the Israeli settlement is confirmed to have failed miserably in bringing peace and security to the region. In fact, in light of what has happened since the signing of the Abrahamic Covenant last September, stability has proven to be the only business for those who do – which could break their loyalty to the region and beyond.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor of Al Jazeera.
