by N. Peter Kramer
The fact that Israel and the UAE are establishing normal relations can rightfully be called an historic breakthrough. The UAE is recognising Israel in exchange for Israel’s abandoning further annexation plans to the West Bank. It is a diplomatic success of mediation by US President Donald Trump and his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Palestinians speak of treason, as do the Orthodox Jews who live in settlements in the West Bank. It is difficult in this part of the world to make everybody happy.
It is not only welcome that the UAE and Israel are going to exchange ambassadors, set up direct scheduled flights and a direct telephone line; the agreement between Israel and the UAE also makes visible what has been going on for a long time. Shias create a greater anger amongst Sunnis than Jews. It brings a development to the surface that has been going on for much longer: Israel is no longer the main enemy of Arab countries, but Iran is. Much has been written about the internal Islamic dispute. Two schools of thought are fighting for dominance, the Sunnis against the Shias. The Sunni muslims are headed by Saudi Arabia, the Shias by Iran on the other side of the Persian Gulf. In all the conflicts in the region, from IS to Yemen, and from Syria to Lebanon, the Sunni-Shia rivalry always plays a role. And this struggle has intensified in recent years.
The reactions to the news from the predominantly Sunni UAE fall exactly within this dichotomy. Sunni muslim countries are positive about the agreement. The allies of Shia Iran call it treason. For years there has been no improvement in the relationship between Israel and the surrounding Arab states. Only Egypt and Jordan have official relationships with the Jewish state. The UAE is the first Gulf state to reach out to sworn enemy Israel.
More countries may follow. Sudan is said to be on the verge of signing an agreement with Israel. It is not an Arab country, but has played an important role in the decades-long conflict; in Sudan in 1967 the Arab countries gathered to formulate the three "no’s": "no" to peace with Israel; "no" to recognition of Israel and "no" to negotiations with Israel.
The masks are down. Suddenly we can see who are friends with whom and equally who are each others’ enemies.
