Palestinians No Longer Possess Veto Power on Arab Ties With Israel; Trump changes the paradigm

Frontpage Mag ^ | 02/20/2020 | Joseph Puder

[SeekAndFind]

The time when Palestinian leaders had the last word on Arab states ties with Israel is over. The new reality in the Middle East is that Iran, not Israel, is perceived as an existential threat to the Sunni-Arab states, particularly to those in the Gulf. In addition to security considerations, Arab states are also interested in trade relations with Israel, especially in Israeli technology. That said, we can also be certain that the same Arab states will continue to pay lip-service to the Palestinian cause, principally, to appease their domestic crowds in the name of Islamic solidarity and Arab unity.

In recent times, we have witnessed a number of Arab League nations meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a surprise meeting earlier this month, Sudan’s new leader, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign council, met with Netanyahu in Entebbe, Uganda. Sudan, a member of the Arab League, has joined a number of other Arab League nations in meeting with Israel’s Prime Minister. Netanyahu made a state visit to Oman last October where he met with the sultan, Qaboos bin Said. Also last year, Netanyahu broke bread with top officials of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates at a Warsaw, Poland summit. In March, 2019, Saudi Arabia opened its airspace to Israel-bound passenger flights over the kingdom, breaking a 70-year-ban.

At the unveiling of the Trump administration “Deal of the Century” late last month at the White House, the ambassadors from Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE were present. Although not all Arab League or Muslim states responded positively, several Arab states did so. Morocco’s Foreign Ministry stated that “it appreciates the U.S. Mideast peace plan.” Egypt characterized the peace deal as “an effort to advance the stability and security of the Middle East.”

[SeekAndFind]

AND NOTE THIS:

Saudi Arabia’s government-controlled mouthpiece Al Arabiya, in its editorial, urged the Palestinian leaders to enter into direct negotiations with Israel.

[DoodleDawg]

Trump’s plan has removed the U.S. from the peace process, is removing many of the Arab countries from the peace process, and leaving the whole mess in the hands of the Israelis and the Palestinians alone to make peace or not make peace. As it should be.

[SJackson]

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Trump's plan is nothing more than facing reality. One would think that would be an asset for politicians, but it hasn't . Same reality, an aggressive, expansionist Iran sets in with Israel's Arab neighbors.