Author: David Hearst
Affiliation: Middle East Eye
Organization/Publisher: Middle East Eye
Date/Place: August 17, 2020/UK
Type of Literature: Opinion
Word Count: 1858
Link: https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-uae-deal-middle-east-new-hegemons
Keywords: Hegemony, Domestic Challenges, Peace Deal.
Brief:
The recognition of Israel by the UAE was orchestrated by three men who all face domestic challenges: Trump and the elections, Netanyahu and the protests at home, And Bin Zayed’s failed regional projects. The deal is about survival from the reactions of political opponents, meaning that this is not about peace but is an attempt to establish an alliance between occupiers and dictators. Similar to former relations between Arab leaders and Israel, this deal will not swing the masses in favor of Israel as public resentment will continue if not increase. Fatah and Hamas have been pushed to rapprochement after the current events, and a figure like Mohammed Dahlan who played a divisive role between the two parties has been discredited completely. In addition, the democratic demands of the Arab masses and those of a free Palestine unite in the face of a common enemy—despots and occupiers. With Israel’s new deal, it cannot pretend to be a victim of an unstable region as it is obvious that it is a perpetrator in this state of affairs. The desire to maintain power and to attain hegemony by Bin Zayed and Netanyahu is not popularly supported, and the peace deal will be swept away by a new uprising sooner than later.
By: Omar Fili, CIGA Research Assistant
