The Israel-UAE peace accord is a game changer for peace in the Middle East. This is full diplomatic relations with an important Arab nation. The most significant advancement for peace in the Middle East since the 1994 peace deal with Jordon. This is Iran’s worst nightmare. And it is part of the Trump Peace Plan.
“Today we usher in a new era of peace with the Arab world. I just came from a historic virtual conference between myself, President Donald Trump, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates. We announced the establishment of a full and formal peace between Israel and the UAE. It includes the mutual opening of Embassies, direct flights, and many, many other bilateral agreements.” “This is the greatest advancement towards peace between Israel and the Arab world in the last 26 years.” – Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu
Mike Evans, an evangelical leader close with President Trump who has been involved in meetings with the Arab leaders, said in an interview on August 13, 2020, with I24 Israel news; “This is part of the Trump Peace Plan designed by Jared Kushner that has been in the works for over two years…And Netanyahu has been working on this for over 10 years.” He also stated, “The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is in agreement with the UAE and we will be shocked at how many Arab nations follow and normalize diplomatic relations with Israel.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has been meeting with Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and other significant Middle Eastern Muslim nations. These Arab nations are Sunni and all are threatened by Iran. They also are wise enough to see the technological, medical, environmental partnership advantages of a relationship with Israel.
Getting the Sunni states who are the bankers of the Palestinians to align with Israel puts a “checkmate on the Palestinians,” taking away their negotiating power. No longer can the Palestinians threaten war or an overall Arab uprising when the most powerful Sunni Arab nations are aligned with Israel!
Timing is Significant –
It is also important to note that August 13, 2020, is the 15th Anniversary of uprooting the Jewish Residents of Gaza and turning it over to the Palestinians. This was known as the “Disengagement Plan” and was supposed to be a “Land for Peace” deal with Palestinians. Twenty two Jewish settlements in Gaza were forcibly evacuated removing every Jewish family. As we know, the newly Palestinian occupied and ruled Gaza elected a terror group Hamas as their leadership and terror attacks have been constant since.
Over 80 terror balloons with small bombs attached were launched into Israel in the 48 hours before this historic announcement, lighting Israel farms ablaze. Israel’s defense forces did retaliate. The terror attacks from Gaza by Iranian backed Hamas and Islamic Jihad are daily and have burned thousands of acres of Israeli farmland in the last recent years and endangered communities.
Who is the UAE and why this is a game-changer in the Middle East –
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the financial powerhouse of the Middle East. The capital of the UAE is Abu Dhabi and the largest city Dubai is a global financial capital.
The United Arab Emirates is a group of six of seven emirates consisting of – Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al Quwain. It’s capital Abu Dhabi accounts for 6 percent of the world’s oil reserves. They have a significant space program and have a Mars mission well underway. The population is over 9 million and controls a significant wealth of the Arab world.
The UAE is recognized as a regional and world power. It is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, OPEC, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Most Powerful Leader in the Arab World
Crown Prince Shiek Mohammed bin Zayed, 58, worked with President Trump who brokered the deal between Israel and the UAE. Prince Mohammed is the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and ruler of the United Arab Emirates. The New York Times recently called Prince Muhammed “arguably the most powerful leader in the Arab world.”
UAE has been an important military partner with the United States since 1994. UAE has a significant air force and military. Their special forces are active in Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and Egypt’s North Sinai and are also very influential in Saudi Arabia.
The United Arab Emirates began allowing American forces to operate from bases inside the country during the Persian Gulf war of 1991. They have assisted American forces in Kosovo, Somalia, Afghanistan and Libya, and against the Islamic State. As a military partner, UAE has acquired from the US 80 F-16 fighters, 30 Apache combat helicopters. They also get upgrades for their F-15’s from Israel and share other technology.
Shared enemies
Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood are the Prince’s declared enemies. Another reason for the importance of this peace accord. The shared enemy of Iran was not the primary reason for solidified diplomatic relations. Shared technology, science, and economic interests were the primary factor. Sudan and Oman are expected to soon follow in normalizing ties with Israel.
This alignment with the military power of the UAE should also completely change the dynamic of the threat by Hezbollah on Israel’s northern border as well as the power the Palestinians think they have. Tensions have been high as Iran, via Syria, has built up over 250,000 missiles on Israel’s northern border and armed terrorists in Gaza and in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria). This alignment with a Middle East military powerhouse in UAE will be a substantial advantage to Israel facing Hezbollah’s threat and Iranian threats in Syria.
Netanyahu Thanked President Trump –
“for his critical help in brokering this historic accord. I want to thank him for his revolutionary vision for peace, which is the most realistic and important formula for peace in the region. President Trump’s Middle East plan served as a basis for this historic peace announcement.
Israel and the UAE are two of the most advanced countries in the world. Together we will transform the region and forge an even better future for our people. A future of peace, a future of security, and a future of prosperity. I have always believed we could find peace with the Arab world and I have been working towards that lofty goal for decades.”
In recent years Israel has made advancement with Sudan, Oman, bargain, and other nations. Netanyahu said he is confident that after this announcement, many more Arab nations will follow and join the region’s “circle of peace.
Christians and Jews free in UAE
Unlike Saudi Arabia and other strict nations, the United Arab Emirates under Prince Muhammed’s leadership allows Christian churches and Hindu or Sikh temples, has an accepted Jewish community and a third of the cabinet ministers are women.
Christians account for 13 percent of the total population of the United Arab Emirates, according to census data. The government recognizes various Christian denominations and Christians are free to worship. In September of 2019, the UAE made a historic declaration by announcing a new UAE landmark, which will feature a church, mosque, and synagogue built in the same location in Abu Dhabi.
A new Jewish community was formed in November 2019 –
“The fact that there is for the first time in centuries a new Jewish community established in the heart of the Arab World is nothing short of historic.” – Newly announced Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of the Emirates (JCE)
The Palestinians Are Shocked – “CheckMate”
Previously, the peace deals with Arab Countries were in 1979 with Egypt, 1994 with Jordon, and today with the United Arab Emirates. Prime minister Netanyahu also said strongly that while there will be a pause in applying sovereignty to the Jewish settlements in the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) there is no change in the plan. Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria will still happen after a short time.
However, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed tweeted “During a call with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli Annexation fo the Palestinian territories.” Earlier in the day Prime Minister Netanyahu said he has not stopped his plan to issue sovereignty over the settlements in Judea and Samira. Netanyahu insisted multiple times it was only a pause, sovereignty will still happen. Time will tell as details emerge.
The terrorist organization Hamas runs Gaza. Trump hopes a plan for prosperity will help Palestinians choose a life of prosperity over terrorism.
This is a shock to the Palestinian Authority and leadership in Gaza. According to live reports from reporters inside the West Bank and Gaza, they were caught off-guard by this. It is certainly a significant signal that they are losing support form the Arab world and are going to have to operate from a new paradigm. Gaza’s leadership made a statement calling it a “stab in the back.”
–by Robin Rowan | Church for Israel. Rowan is a recipient of the ‘Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism.” After many years in government oversight for U.S. Inspectors Generals, Ms. Rowan conducts extensive research and mandates truth over politics. She is a political activist for the US- Israel relationship, serving as lay lobbing leader and six years on the National Council of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). (Views expressed do not reflect views of AIPAC.) An ordained minister, she speaks to Churches of all denominations on Israel and the importance of the Christian advocacy and engagement in politics. Webinars and a weekly podcast are in development. Sponsorship of this work is encouraged. Robin can be contacted at Church4Israel @ gmail.com.