EDITORIAL: Discreet contacts between Israel and Gulf Arab states have been going on for quite some time. The United Arab Emirates has now taken the first 'bold' step to reach a deal with Tel Eviv. The announcement came from US President Donald Trump on Thursday who described the deal as a "historic agreement between our two great friends." In a sign that the other Gulf Arab states are likely to follow suit, present at announcement ceremony were also representatives of Oman and Bahrain. The development comes at a time the peace process is dead in the water and Israel has been given the go-ahead by Trump to annex the occupied territories. The Palestinian leadership has denounced the deal as amounting to "treason" and "betrayal of Jerusalem, al-Aqsa and the Palestinian cause."
As for the UAE ruler's claim that the agreement is to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories it has been effectively debunked. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not take long to invalidate the spurious claim, saying he has agreed to delay annexation but the plan remains "on the table." He may want to wait for the upcoming US election since presidential hopeful Joe Biden has opposed the annexation plan. Hanan Ashrawi, a prominent PLO leader who has been participating in the defunct peace negotiations, said "please don't do us a favour, we are nobody's fig leaf." Later in a twitter riposte she gave vent to how it feels to be on the receiving end of injustice and oppression in these moving words: "May you never experience the agony of having your country stolen; may you never feel the pain of living in captivity under occupation; may you never witness the demolition of your home or murder of your loved ones. May you never be sold out by your 'friends'." Full realization of the agreement carries great risks. There is the question where will the UAE establish its embassy. In Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future (elusive) state?
Indeed, principles take a back seat where countries', in this case the rulers', interests are concerned. The Gulf states are prepared to sacrifice the Palestinian cause, in violation of international law, due to shared worries about the radicalizing influence of Iran. But the path they are taking will only strengthen the 'Axis of Resistance', led by Iran. Hamas, a powerful ally of Tehran which successfully confronted Israel several times, has said the deal encourages Israeli occupation, "and even to continue its crimes against our people."
The move surely will further fortify UAE and other Gulf Arab rulers' relations with the US. But it is a recipe for more trouble in the region. Turkey, increasingly asserting its role in the region's affairs, has averred, "history and the conscience of the region's peoples will not forget and never forgive this hypocritical behavior of the UAE, betraying the Palestinian cause for the sake of its narrow interests." While a setback for their struggle, the agreement is not going to destroy the Palestinian people's hopes for a just solution. Nor will their supporters let that happen.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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