Read on Twitter
The Israel-UAE was "something good" for the following reasons.
1. People-to-people relations: Emiratis can travel to Israel, visit Haram ash-Sharif and Israelis can visit the Emirates. Animosity stemming from ignorance will subside. https://twitter.com/shadihamid/status/1295742930876010496
1. People-to-people relations: Emiratis can travel to Israel, visit Haram ash-Sharif and Israelis can visit the Emirates. Animosity stemming from ignorance will subside. https://twitter.com/shadihamid/status/1295742930876010496
2. Business ties: Israel will benefit from a new market and new money. The UAE will benefit from Israeli innovation. Collaboration between two advanced economies in the Middle East will be good for everyone.
3. Defense ties: Both countries are wary of Iran's regional ambitions. This deal might pave the way for Emirati access to more sophisticated U.S. weapons for defense. Either way, this will allow for deeper coordination to thwart Iran.
4. Regional peace: This precisely breaks out of the status quo. Israel and many Arab states have shared objectives. Recognizing that they don't pose a threat to one another is a major positive step for the region. Also, the Pals no longer determine Arab states' foreign policy.
5. Israeli-Palestinian peace: The Palestinians will hopefully recognize that time is not on their side and that if they don't move forward, they'll be stuck in the past. They haven't engaged with Israel since at least 2014. Their leadership is ossified and divided.
5. (cont'd) There's Abbas in year 16 of his 4-year term, whose health is deteriorating and the terrorist group Hamas running Gaza. The leaders are failing the Palestinians. There needs to be a shake up and a realistic approach to peace.
5. (cont'd) Maximalist Palestinian negotiating points have not evolved to reflect reality. By continuing to indulge maximal demands, rather than set the stage for a realistic peace deal, Pal leadership is taking the easy route that won't make peace any likelier.
6. Friends listen to friends: The UAE can demonstrate how closer ties with Israel will allow Arab states to represent Palestinian interests. The UAE got Netanyahu to shelve annexation/sovereignty. Israel is more likely to make concessions to the Pals if it feels more secure.
7. Reducing anti-Semitism: Increasing Arab exposure to Israelis and Jews and breaking the taboo of normalization will chip away at the rampant anti-Semitism that has endured in the Middle East.
8. Peace is better for everyone: Increased ties with the UAE will also provide the Palestinians with more opportunities.
