Lao Tzu said it. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” So this week an auspicious step was taken. It should go without notice. Thursday a deal was finalized during a call between Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed.
The game
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls it a historic starting point. He unveiled the deal between his country, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates. The Israeli PM is calling it “the greatest advancement towards peace between Israel and the Arab world in the last 26 years.”
President Trump was responsible for brokering the deal between the two nations. The expectation is this will lead to a “full normalization.” This includes formal diplomatic relations between the Middle Eastern nations. Under the agreement, Israel agrees to suspend applying sovereignty to areas of the West Bank it was discussing annexing.
The deal will eventually lead to Israel and the UAE signing bilateral agreements. The expectation is the agreements will include investment, technology, security, and tourism. The nations will set up embassies and allow direct flights between the two countries.
If all goes to plan the agreement makes the UAE the third nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel. Egypt signed a peace agreement in 1979, while Jordan signed one in 1994.
The players
Netanyahu said, “I have the great privilege to make the 3rd peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, UAE… [the agreement] shows a huge change in the status of Israel in the Middle East. After decades of Israel seen as an enemy, today many many countries see Israel as a strategic ally for stability advancement and for peace… other Arab and Muslim countries will join our circle of peace.”
The deal seems to put Netanyahu’s annexation plans on hold. Some have warned that the move could trigger a domestic backlash against the prime minister. Yamina leader Naftali Bennett praised the normalization saying, “… relations between the two countries are no longer held hostage by Palestinian recalcitrance…”
He also took Netanyahu to task for suspending “once-in-century” sovereignty plans saying, “It is tragic that Netanyahu did not seize the moment and didn’t have the courage to apply sovereignty to a centimeter of the Land of Israel, but sovereignty over the parts of our homeland will come from somewhere else…”
Is peace breaking out in the Middle East? No, it is not, but the non-hostility area is larger. The Middle East is a Muslim majority area. Muslims are, have been, and will be in a holy war with all non-Muslims. The religion requires it. Unless and until there is a Muslim epiphany and reformation, Islam cannot accept or embrace non-Muslims. We are Kafir. The religion recognizes the only peace is submission to Islam.