In recent years, some Arab countries in the region and their Western allies believed that normalizing Arab relations with Israel, without addressing a solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, would bring about regional peace, prosperity, and security, leading to progress and economic prosperity for their countries.
The October 7th operation underscored the inadequacy of this belief, highlighting that unless there is a thoughtful resolution to the Palestinian issue, Palestinians won't adopt a passive role in the region. They won't permit external forces to dictate or disregard them, and their participation in regional and international affairs must not be marginalized. The future and stability of the region are intricately linked to the Palestinian cause.
They showcased that, during critical historical junctures, they possess the ability to disrupt the power dynamics involving global and regional actors. As evidenced in the aftermath of the Abraham Accords between Israel and Arab states and the potential agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia on October 14, 2023, Saudi Arabia found itself compelled to halt talks normalizing relations with Israel. Certain Arab nations that had either normalized or were on the brink of normalizing ties with Israel faced a challenging situation during the October 7th operation, particularly under the pressure of public opinion.
Examining the position and condition of each of these countries regarding Palestine and Israel before and after October 7th is independently worthy of attention. Among these countries, the United Arab Emirates stands out as the first Gulf Arab state to normalize its relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords in 2020. This agreement was subsequently followed by Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.
The underlying reality of these agreements indicated that the Palestinian issue was no longer a hindrance to relations between Israel and Arab states in the region. It reflected those Arab countries, by turning a blind eye to the rights of Palestinians under Israeli occupation, had overlooked their previous insistence on the establishment of a Palestinian state as a precondition for normalizing relations with Israel.
Instead of curbing the expansionist actions of Israel and Zionist settlers, these agreements led to further disregard for the rights of Palestinians and inspired the increasing audacity of the Zionists.
Moreover, those who signed the Abraham Accords received substantial incentives from the United States. These inducements encompassed the official acknowledgment of Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara, the sale of 50 F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, and the removal of Sudan from the list of designated terrorist countries, coupled with a $1.5 billion loan. Additionally, the Abraham Accords yielded security, economic, and technological advantages for the UAE, including the influx of tens of thousands of Israeli tourists and the adoption of defense systems jointly manufactured by Israel and the United States.
Conversely, for Israel, this accord not only significantly broadened trade and diplomatic ties with the participating Arab nations, notably the affluent UAE and Bahrain, but also intensified military and intelligence collaboration. Moreover, the Arab countries endorsing the Abraham Accords, such as Egypt and Jordan, formalized military coordination and intelligence-sharing with Israel.
On January 15, 2021, the United States repositioned Israel from its European Command to the Central Command, responsible for the Middle East, facilitating increased military and operational collaboration between Israel and its Arab counterparts.
Including Israel in the Central Command implied an enhancement in collaborative capabilities between Israel and Arab countries, suggesting that any exchange of information could contribute to supporting Israel's on-the-ground operations.
The United Arab Emirates' sustained commitment to the Abraham Accords, despite the extensive loss of Palestinian lives, signals the ongoing support of this nation for Israel. In the initial statement following the October 7th operation, the UAE expressed solidarity with Israel.
On October 25, during a United Nations Security Council meeting, Reem Al Hashimy, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, characterized the Hamas attacks on October 7th as "savage and heinous," without referencing Israel's historical crimes spanning 75 years or the context of Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. She called for the "immediate and unconditional release of Israeli hostages" to stop the bloodshed and ensure the safety of all non-combatants.
Unlike some Arab countries with peace agreements with Israel, the United Arab Emirates did not sever its ties with Israel after the Israeli war against Gaza. It neither recalled its ambassador nor expelled the Israeli ambassador. This is in contrast to Jordan, which has had diplomatic relations with Israel since 1994 and recalled its ambassador in protest against the Gaza attack. Bahrain, which signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, not only recalled its ambassador but also expelled the Israeli ambassador and suspended its economic relations.
The matter of UAE-Israel relations after October 7th extended beyond the diplomatic realm and expressions of solidarity, as the UAE's supportive statements towards Israel found a military cooperation aspect. For instance, France 24 reported the release of images indicating that UAE fighter jets were actively bombing Gaza alongside Israeli military aircraft.
Another UAE initiative was the signing of a new agreement with Israel to protect Israel against the threats from Yemeni forces. Amidst the bombardment and civilian casualties in Gaza, this agreement announced the establishment of a ground route (bridge) between Dubai and the port of Haifa to bypass Yemeni threats, effectively closing the Red Sea to ships associated with the Zionist regime. Israel's state television network, i24, quoted an Emirati official stating that Abu Dhabi is preparing to intercept missiles from Yemen.
The role of Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates in supporting American and European fighter jets for the defense of Israel should not be overlooked in the regional developments. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Biden administration has ordered some aircraft to be stationed in the United Arab Emirates "to defend Israel and prevent further attacks."
However, the UAE Ministry of Defense denied the published claim that American military aircraft were entering Al-Dhafra Air Base to support Israel, stating that the entry of American aircraft was based on a pre-determined schedule within the framework of military cooperation between the UAE and the United States and unrelated to the ongoing developments in the region.
Nevertheless, the Pentagon announced that some of the jet aircraft, which the Biden administration had ordered to defend Israel and prevent further attacks, have entered the region. Defense officials also reported the deployment of a squadron of A-10 attack planes at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona to Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE.
In addition to military collaborations, UAE officials have also stated that economic relations between the country and Israelis will continue despite any future conflicts. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, declared, "We do not mix economics and politics."
This comes as, according to a report from the Atlantic Council, Emirati officials have expressed hope in private discussions that Israel will successfully eliminate Hamas swiftly, particularly before Arab public sentiments become uncontrollable.
Although the UAE has condemned certain actions, including Israel's ground operations in Gaza, these responses, along with the previously mentioned practical cooperation with Israel, are primarily seen as symbolic gestures to address the sentiments of their own people and the Arab populace, rather than indicative of a genuine divergence in their approach.
Possibly for this reason, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli regimes Prime Minister, in a speech following October 7th, commended leaders of certain allied Arab nations. He interpreted some of their critical remarks as actions driven by concerns about their current situations, status, and the future of their regimes. During a high-level Knesset meeting, Netanyahu also announced that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates would contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza after the conflict with Hamas. He stated, "The initial step in Gaza will be the defeat of Hamas. Following that, I anticipate support for Gaza's reconstruction from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia."
These statements may well be components of the implicit agreements within the Abraham Accords. One party is involved in acts of violence and destruction, while the other, in addition to fostering economic and trade relations, military coordination, and sharing security and intelligence information with the occupying force, facilitates funding for the reconstruction of territories damaged by that occupying force.
