Introduction
Israel's normalization of ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan shatters the status quo in which Arab states withheld recognition of Israel until it allowed creation of an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. The U.S.-brokered agreement is excellent news for the signatories. Security cooperation and coordination regarding Iran — a country that all the parties to the agreements view as a threat — will increase. And officials anticipate around $500 million in deals and investments annually through the marriage of Gulf Arab petrodollars and Israel's scientific and technological expertise. But the deals leave the Palestinians in the cold, with few options. They are hoping for more sympathetic treatment from the incoming Biden administration. But President-elect Joe Biden first must tackle America's COVID-19 and economic crises before investing the time and political capital needed to revive the Middle East peace process. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are waiting to see how the normalization agreements function before signing on.
President Trump announces an agreement between Israel and Bahrain to establish diplomatic relations on Sept. 11, 2020. Trump made the announcement in the Oval Office, flanked by Vice President Mike Pence (left) and Trump's son-in-law and Middle East adviser, Jared Kushner. (Getty Images/Anna Moneymaker)
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Israel, Palestine, and Middle East Peace |
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Dec. 11, 2020 |
The Abraham Accords |
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Apr. 13, 2018 |
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict |
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Mar. 09, 2018 |
Saudi Arabia's Uncertain Future |
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Jun. 21, 2013 |
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict |
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May 2009 |
Middle East Peace Prospects |
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Oct. 27, 2006 |
Middle East Tensions  |
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Jan. 21, 2005 |
Middle East Peace |
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Aug. 30, 2002 |
Prospects for Mideast Peace |
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Apr. 06, 2001 |
Middle East Conflict |
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Mar. 06, 1998 |
Israel At 50 |
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Aug. 30, 1991 |
The Palestinians |
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Oct. 19, 1990 |
The Elusive Search for Arab Unity |
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Feb. 24, 1989 |
Egypt's Strategic Mideast Role |
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Apr. 15, 1988 |
Israel's 40-Year Quandary |
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Mar. 02, 1984 |
American Involvement in Lebanon |
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Nov. 12, 1982 |
Reagan's Mideast Peace Initiative |
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Apr. 23, 1982 |
Egypt After Sadat |
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Jan. 04, 1980 |
Divided Lebanon |
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Jul. 20, 1979 |
West Bank Negotiations |
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Dec. 01, 1978 |
Middle East Transition |
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Jan. 13, 1978 |
Saudi Arabia's Backstage Diplomacy |
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Oct. 29, 1976 |
Arab Disunity |
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May 16, 1975 |
Middle East Diplomacy |
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Sep. 13, 1974 |
Palestinian Question |
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Dec. 12, 1973 |
Middle East Reappraisal |
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Apr. 25, 1973 |
Israeli Society After 25 Years |
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Aug. 19, 1970 |
American Policy in the Middle East |
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Apr. 25, 1969 |
Arab Guerrillas |
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Aug. 02, 1967 |
Israeli Prospects |
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Jul. 06, 1966 |
Middle East Enmities |
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Apr. 14, 1965 |
Relations with Nasser |
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Aug. 17, 1960 |
Arab-Israeli Deadlock |
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May 27, 1959 |
Middle East Instability |
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Jun. 04, 1958 |
Nasser and Arab Unity |
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Oct. 02, 1957 |
Soviet Threat in Middle East |
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Sep. 18, 1956 |
Suez Dispute and Strategic Waterways |
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May 09, 1956 |
Middle East Commitments |
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Apr. 13, 1955 |
Middle East Conflicts |
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Mar. 31, 1954 |
Security in the Mideast |
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Oct. 23, 1952 |
Israel and the Arab States |
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Jan. 30, 1952 |
Egyptian Crisis and Middle East Defense |
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Mar. 17, 1948 |
Palestine Crisis |
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Feb. 18, 1946 |
Soviet Russia and the Middle East |
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