On September 15, 2020, history was made as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed a peace agreement with Israel in what has been dubbed as the “Abraham Accords.” The move was seen as a significant step towards peace in the Middle East, with hopes that it would pave the way for other Arab nations to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Fast forward to 2021, and another Arab nation has joined the fray: Qatar. On January 28, 2021, Qatar announced that it had signed a reconciliation agreement with other Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt. As part of the deal, the nations agreed to lift the blockade on Qatar that was imposed in 2017.
But what caught many by surprise was the inclusion of a section in the agreement that calls for Qatar to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. While the details of the agreement are yet to be released, the move has been hailed as another significant step towards peace in the Middle East.
Qatar has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, and its decision to establish diplomatic relations with Israel is expected to be met with resistance from some quarters. However, the tiny Gulf nation has been pursuing a more pragmatic foreign policy in recent years, seeking to establish ties with regional powers to ensure its security and economic interests.
For Israel, the deal with Qatar represents another diplomatic victory, as it continues its efforts to establish relations with Arab nations in the region. It also adds to the growing momentum towards peace in the Middle East, which has been largely driven by the United States under the Trump administration.
The move by Qatar also highlights the increasing role of economic interests in shaping foreign policy in the Middle East. Qatar is a major player in the oil and gas industry and has been using its vast resources to expand its influence in the region. By establishing ties with Israel, Qatar is also seeking to tap into the Israeli tech industry, which is renowned for its innovation and entrepreneurship.
As with any major diplomatic move, there are likely to be challenges ahead. But the Qatar agreement with Israel represents another positive step towards peace in the Middle East, and the hope is that other nations will follow suit, paving the way for a more stable and prosperous future for the region.