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Arab–Israeli normalization

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Countries that do not recognise Israel in purple, countries that once recognised but have withdrawn recognition in pink

Since the 1970s, there has been a parallel effort made to find terms upon which peace can be agreed to in the Arab–Israeli conflict and also specifically the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Over the years, numerous Arab League countries have signed peace and normalization treaties with Israel, beginning with the Egypt–Israel peace treaty (1979). Despite the failure to implement the Israeli–Lebanese peace accords (1983), more treaties continued with the Israeli–Palestinian peace process (1991–present), the Israel–Jordan peace treaty (1994), the Abraham Accords normalizing relations between Israel–United Arab Emirates and Israel–Bahrain (2020), the Israel–Sudan normalization agreement (2020) and the Israel–Morocco normalization agreement (2020). Moreover, numerous Arab League members established semi-official relations with Israel.

Cease fire attempts and indirect negotiations (1949–1974)

1949 cease fire and Lausanne conference

Main articles: 1949 Armistice Agreements, Lausanne Conference of 1949, and Tripartite Declaration of 1950

1967 United Nations resolution

Main article: United Nations Security Council Resolution 242

1973–1974 United Nations resolutions and cease fire agreements

Main articles: United Nations Security Council Resolution 338, United Nations Security Council Resolution 339, Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 350

Egyptian–Israeli peace treaty (1978–1979)

Main articles: Camp David Accords, Egypt–Israel peace treaty, and Land for peace
Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Menahem Begin after the signature of the Egypt–Israel peace treaty in Washington

Israeli–Lebanese normalization attempt (1983)

Main articles: Israel–Lebanon relations and May 17 Agreement

Israeli–Palestinian peace process

Main article: Israeli–Palestinian peace process

Israel–Jordan peace treaty (1994)

Main article: Israel–Jordan peace treaty

Israeli normalization with Gulf and North Africa Arab states (2017–present)

Main articles: Arab–Israeli alliance against Iran and Abraham Accords
White House Abraham Accords signing ceremony on 15 September 2020
Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan with Israel's Minister of Intelligence, Eli Cohen, in January 2021

The Arab–Israeli alliance against Iran emerged by November 2017,[1] upon warming ties between Israel and the Gulf States and received broad media attention in light of the February 2019 Warsaw Conference. The coordination is taking place in light of the mutual regional security interests of Israel and Sunni Arab States led by Saudi Arabia,[2] and their standoff against Iranian interests across the Middle East: the Iran–Israel proxy conflict and the Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict. The Arab states participating in the coordination group are the core of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Those include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Oman.[3] In 2018, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu led a delegation to Oman and met with Sultan Qaboos and other senior Omani officials.[4]

2020

In February 2020, Netanyahu and the chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met in Uganda, where they both agreed to normalize the ties between the two countries.[5] Later that month, Israeli planes were allowed to fly over Sudan.[6] This was followed by the Abraham Accords, signed by Israel and the United Arab Emirates in August 2020, which normalized relations between the two countries.[7] Concurrently, Israel agreed to suspend plans for the annexation of the Jordan Valley.[8] This normalization agreement was followed by official confirmation of the one with Sudan, as well as others with Bahrain and Morocco. On 31 May 2022, Israel and the United Arab Emirates signed a free trade agreement, the first of its kind between Israel and an Arab state.[9]

2023

In June 2023, US secretary of state Antony Blinken warned Israel that rising tensions with the Palestinians, including through advancing settlement activity, threatened the expansion of normalization agreements with Arab nations, and particularly Saudi Arabia. Speaking alongside Blinken earlier in June, the Saudi foreign minister had stated that "without finding a pathway to peace for the Palestinian people ... any normalization will have limited benefits".[10] In August 2023, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen revealed that he had attended a secret meeting in Rome with Libyan Foreign Minister Najla El Mangoush organized by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, to discuss normalizing relations between the two countries. The news triggered mass protests in Libya, leading to Mangoush's dismissal.[11]

Israel–Hamas war

The Israel–Hamas war had a significant impact on diplomatic efforts. On 14 October 2023, Saudi Arabia suspended talks on the possible normalization of relations with Israel.[12] While Qatar and the UAE desire to maintain relations with Israel, the governments also faced widespread protests against Israel on the ongoing war.[13] On 8 November, Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said that normalisation talks remain on the table.[14]

In October 2023, during the Israel–Hamas war, King Abdullah condemned Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip and the "collective punishment" of Palestinians in Gaza.[15] On 1 November 2023, Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel, accusing the country of creating an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” and “killing innocent people in Gaza”.[16] Jordan also declared that Israel's ambassador, who had departed Amman following Hamas' attack, would not be permitted to return.[17][18]

See also

References

  1. ^ Marcus, Jonathan (24 November 2017). "What's shaping the Israel-Saudi 'alliance'". BBC News. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Saudi Arabia and Israel anti-Iran alliance". Business Insider. 2017-02-19. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  3. ^ The solidifying Arab-Israeli Alliance "Relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia continue in the shadows, with reports of senior Israeli officials regularly visiting the Gulf States. Israeli cabinet ministers have openly visited the UAE and Oman, with more set to take place in the future."
  4. ^ "Netanyahu makes historic visit to Oman". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com.
  5. ^ Landau, Noa (3 February 2020). "Netanyahu, Sudanese Leader Meet in Uganda, Agree to Start Normalizing Ties". Haaretz.
  6. ^ "Netanyahu says Israeli planes have started overflying Sudan". Reuters. 16 February 2020.
  7. ^ Holland, Steve (13 August 2020). "With Trump's help, Israel and the United Arab Emirates reach historic deal to normalize relations". Reuters. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Israel and United Arab Emirates strike historic peace accord". FT. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  9. ^ "UAE minister ThaniAlZeyoudi signs with Israeli minister OrnaBarbivay Israel-UAE free trade agreement". May 31, 2022. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  10. ^ "Blinken says US told Israel that violence with Palestinians could jeopardize possible normalization with Saudi Arabia". CNN.
  11. ^ "Libya's Foreign Minister Najla al-Mangoush dismissed: Sources". Aljazeera. 28 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Saudi Arabia pauses normalisation talks with Israel amid ongoing war with Hamas". France 24. 14 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Arab nations scramble to keep back channels open with Israel". The Straits Times. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  14. ^ "Normalisation of ties with Israel contingent on Palestinian issue: Saudi minister". The Straits Times. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Egypt's Sisi, Jordan king condemn 'collective punishment' in Gaza". The Straits Times. 19 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Jordan recalls ambassador to Israel to protest Gaza 'catastrophe'". Al Jazeera. 1 November 2023.
  17. ^ Jordan open to 'all options' as Gaza conflict intensifies reuters.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
  18. ^ Over 10,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, Hamas-run health ministry says; UN calls Gaza a children’s graveyard cnbc.com Retrieved 8 November 2023
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