The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emerged as a diplomatic powerhouse in the Middle East and beyond, thanks to its visionary and pragmatic leadership, its strategic and economic interests, and its role as a bridge builder between different countries and cultures.
The UAE’s most remarkable diplomatic achievement was the signing of the Abraham Accords with Israel in September 2020, which normalized relations between the two former adversaries and opened new avenues for cooperation and development.
The UAE’s Motivations and Objectives
The UAE’s decision to normalize relations with Israel was driven by a combination of motivations and objectives, such as:
The UAE recognized that Israel is a key player and partner in the region, and that establishing ties with it would enhance its security and influence. The UAE also hoped that normalization would create a more conducive environment for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and for countering the common threats posed by Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah and the Houthis.
The UAE saw the potential of tapping into Israel’s advanced and innovative economy, and of creating synergies and opportunities for trade, investment, tourism, and innovation. The UAE also aimed to leverage Israel’s expertise and experience in sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, health, and cybersecurity, and to collaborate on joint projects and initiatives that would benefit both countries and the region.
The UAE wanted to showcase its leadership and vision, and to demonstrate its commitment to peace and dialogue, by taking a bold and historic step towards normalization with Israel. The UAE also sought to increase its international recognition and respect, and to position itself as a model and mediator for other Arab and Muslim countries that might follow its example and pursue normalization with Israel.
The UAE’s Achievements and Challenges
The UAE’s normalization with Israel has yielded several achievements and challenges, such as:
- Expanding and deepening bilateral relations: The UAE and Israel have rapidly and extensively developed their bilateral relations, signing dozens of agreements and memoranda of understanding on various fields and sectors, such as diplomacy, security, trade, culture, education, and sports. The UAE and Israel have also established direct flights, opened embassies and consulates, and exchanged official visits and delegations.
- Fostering multilateral cooperation and dialogue: The UAE and Israel have also engaged in multilateral cooperation and dialogue with other countries and actors, such as the US, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Egypt, Jordan, Greece, Cyprus, India, and the UN. The UAE and Israel have participated in several regional and international forums and platforms, such as the Abraham Accords Institute, the Abraham Fund, the Quad, and the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, to promote peace and development in the region and beyond.
- Facing domestic and external opposition and criticism: The UAE and Israel have also faced some domestic and external opposition and criticism from some segments of their societies and from some regional and international actors, such as Iran, Turkey, Qatar, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Authority. The UAE and Israel have been accused of betraying the Palestinian cause, undermining the Arab Peace Initiative, and serving the interests of the US and Israel at the expense of the Arab and Muslim world.
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The UAE’s Future Prospects and Recommendations
The UAE’s normalization with Israel has opened a new chapter in the history and future of the Middle East, and has created new prospects and recommendations for both countries and the region, such as:
- Sustaining and expanding the Abraham Accords: The UAE and Israel should continue to sustain and expand the Abraham Accords, by consolidating their bilateral relations, increasing their economic and cultural exchanges, and enhancing their people-to-people contacts. The UAE and Israel should also encourage and support other Arab and Muslim countries to join the Abraham Accords, and to normalize their relations with Israel, based on mutual respect and benefit.
- Supporting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process: The UAE and Israel should also support the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, by using their influence and leverage to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between the two parties, and to promote a two-state solution that would end the occupation and ensure the rights and dignity of both peoples. The UAE and Israel should also provide humanitarian and developmental assistance to the Palestinians, and to help them build their institutions and capacities.
- Building a regional security architecture: The UAE and Israel should also build a regional security architecture, by cooperating and coordinating with their allies and partners, such as the US, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, and NATO, to address the common challenges and threats in the region, such as Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, its support for militias and proxies, and its interference in the internal affairs of other countries. The UAE and Israel should also engage in confidence-building measures and de-escalation mechanisms with their adversaries, such as Iran and Turkey, to reduce tensions and prevent conflicts.
The UAE’s diplomatic success in forging historic ties with Israel and beyond is a remarkable and commendable achievement, that reflects its vision and pragmatism, its interests and values, and its role as a bridge builder. The UAE’s normalization with Israel has not only transformed the bilateral relations between the two countries, but also the regional and international dynamics and prospects. The UAE’s normalization with Israel is a gift and a challenge, that requires constant and collective efforts and support, to ensure its sustainability and success.
