The agreement between Israel and Bahrain was signed in the Bahraini capital Manama, where the Israeli delegation arrived accompanied by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The AP quoted the Israeli High Representative as saying that the signing of the agreement would allow the two countries to open embassies between the two countries in the coming months.
Mnuchin called the agreement an important step towards regional stability. Several memoranda of understanding were also signed at the ceremony in Manama, covering trade, aviation, telecommunications, finance, banking and agriculture.
The Israeli delegation is also going to the United Arab Emirates. On Tuesday, the two countries are expected to sign an agreement to operate 28 commercial flights a week between Tel Aviv, Israel, and the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The UAE cabinet ratified an agreement on Monday to establish full-fledged diplomatic relations with Israel, which was signed by representatives of both countries in Washington in September. The Israeli government and parliament ratified the agreement last week.
“Together, the UAE and Israel will be better prepared to confront the malignant threats posed by the Iranian regime, its representatives and other extremist groups,” US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said in Abu Dhabi on the occasion of the first trade summit following the agreements. The Israeli delegation also took part in the event. The UAE and Israel have signed a number of trade agreements since mid-August, when they announced the establishment of relations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreements would bring real peace between nations, including economic peace. “Especially at the time of coronavirus, this is very important. “Peace in investment that will strengthen our economy and allow us to help even more Israeli citizens,” he said.
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It is both business and Iran
According to CT correspondent David Borek, both elements of “positive definition” and elements of “negative definition” can be found in Israel’s relations with both Arab countries.
“The positive definition is that these are economically developed countries that can only make money on it. After all, informal business contacts have been there for several years. It is the relationship of two post-industrial capitalist societies. The negative is also there, so – let’s join forces against Iran, let’s join forces against a common enemy, “he explained.
Even the United States, which has acted as a mediator in the negotiations, promises potential economic gains from strengthening cooperation in the Gulf countries. Above all, however, they hope to build a rampart against Iran.
Borek also states that the American aspect of the agreements is military. The Americans wanted to join forces with their allies in the region – Israel on the one hand and Sunni monarchies on the other – against Iran, the rapporteur explained. According to him, a certain “romanticizing” aspect also plays a role.
“All American presidents are to some extent fascinated by the Middle East, the promise of peace and bonuses to American domestic audiences if such peace is achieved. To a certain extent, there is the romanticizing element – I, the American president, will be the one who will achieve a historic breakthrough, “says Borek.
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Palestinians on the sidelines
The action of the UAE and Bahrain is criticized by the Palestinians, according to which both countries deviated from the existing principle that the rapprochement of Arab countries with Israel should begin only after the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Bahraini people also protested against the agreement at home and abroad.
The Palestinians are aware at the moment that they are experiencing defeat. “Palestinians in the 1990s and in the first decade of this century may have been aware of this, and may have felt that they were to some extent at the heart of not only American policy in the Middle East,” Borek said.
“And they lost this belief that they are the cornerstone around which the architecture of the Middle East will be built,” the CT correspondent concluded, noting that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not completely neglected, but now remains secondary.
In the past, only two Arab countries have signed peace agreements with Israel – Egypt and Jordan. The plane with the Israeli delegation flew through the airspace of Saudi Arabia on Monday. However, this traditional ally of the US and regional power has not yet heard Washington’s urging to normalize relations with Israel.
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