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Jack Cohen – Arab Support for Palestinians Wanes
Among the many reasons for the normalization/peace agreements between Israel and the UAE and Bahrain are the following: 1. The Iranian threat: Shia Iran threatens the existence of the Sunni Arab States as much as it does Israel, the attainment of a nuclear weapon by Iran would be as much a threat to them as it is to Israel; 2. Security: These small Gulf States need help with their security, in cyber support and in anti-terrorism, that Israel can provide from its extensive experience; 3. Economic development: the UAE has based its development not on oil revenues, but on becoming a modernized hub for transportation (Dubai has one of the biggest airports in the world) and tourism. One crucial thing they lack, that Israel has plenty of, is start-up companies. In that respect, the cash of the UAE and the innovative ideas of Israel should make an excellent mix; 4. Political support: For a country that is advanced and modernized, the UAE needs access to US markets and politicians. In order to have that, a short-cut is to make peace with Israel, which has excellent and wide access to all aspects of the US. 5. Lack of Hostility: The UAE and Bahrain have never had any hostilities with Israel, and they now see Israel as a successful, dynamic State in their region, with which they have a lot in common and can do business.
There is another and perhaps most important factor, and that is waning support for the intransigent, unyielding positions of the Palestinians among Arabs. In 72 years since Israel’s foundation (and before) the Arabs of British Palestine have not changed their positions, which are that they claim the whole of Palestine including Israel, they claim the right of return to all territories including Israel, and they consider all Palestinians (including subsequent generations) as refugees. In order to achieve these goals they refuse all recognition and contact with Israel. Their position has been extreme and unwavering. Notwithstanding Arab defeat in all attempts to defeat Israel and virtual automatic Arab support for the Palestinian positions until recently, this support has gradually receded until it is way down the list of priorities for most Arabs.
The nail in the coffin for Arab support for Palestinian positions, but not for the Palestinians per se, was not the normalization agreements, but the statements recently emanating from Saudi Arabia, the most important Sunni Arab country. In a three-part interview on Al Arabiya TV former Saudi Ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar al-Sultan, stated that while the Palestinian cause is just, its leaders are failures, having failed to do anything to resolve the issue in 70 years. And he is definitely speaking for the Saudi regime, including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, when he criticizes the Palestinian leadership for aligning themselves with Turkey, Qatar, and Iran, declared Saudi enemies.
This is what we in Israel have been saying for years. The Palestinians are inflexible, and although they claim they support a two-state solution and want a Palestinian State, it should be obvious to any observer after 72 years that they in fact want only a single state solution and do not want peace but a war to annihilate Israel. Some Arab States have decided that they must act in their own interests, rather than be tied forever to impossible Palestinian extremism.
