Israel-UAE Relations

Context

The normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel has electrified the Middle East, India welcomed the ties.

Background

The wheels of history keep turning inexorably. The Israeli-UAE agreement to normalize relations is a path-breaking move in the Middle east, and an inflexion point in regional and global geopolitics. The agreement, contained in a trilateral Joint Statement by the US, UAE and Israel, is a defining moment for the evolving regional political architecture, that will leave a lasting impact on Asian Continent. It envisages “full normalization” of relations between Israel and UAE. The agreement that will be called the ‘Abraham Accord’ was brokered by US President Donald Trump.

The agreement comes after Israel’s Prime Minister agreed to suspend plans to annex parts of the West Bank, one that had been bitterly criticized by these Gulf Arab states, including Europe and a few other countries around the world.

Conflict: Historical Picture

After World War I, the former Ottoman-ruled territories in West Asia came under the occupation of the victorious Western powers. In 1917, out of gratitude for the help rendered by the Jewish community in UK, British PM Arthur Balfour pledged to create a homeland for the Jewish people in Palestine which had a small Jewish community, mainly in Jerusalem, the holy city of the Jewish faith. Later, the UK ruled over the territory under a ‘mandate’ from the League of Nations, the precursor organisation of the United Nations.

The UN formed a Special Committee on Palestine [UNSCOP] to consider a solution. The UNSCOP recommended the partition of Palestine into two states, one Jewish and the other Arab. The UN accepted this partition plan, and announced the creation of the two states, with Jerusalem as an international city. Jerusalem is a holy city for the three monotheistic faiths that are Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The Arabs had consistently opposed the partition plan, and the Arab world exploded in anger when Israel announced its independence in May 1948, leading to the first Arab-Israeli War in 1948 and later the 1967 and 1973 wars.

India was the member of USCOP, opposed the partition plan and backed the Arab position for a ‘one state solution’ with safeguards for the Jewish community.

Importance of the Ties

This move is significant because with the exception of Jordan and Egypt, Israel does not have diplomatic relations with Gulf Arab states owing to its long-standing conflict with Palestinians. Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and with Jordan in 1994. However, despite the absence of official diplomatic relations, Israel has been engaging with its neighbours with regard to issues like trade.

The normalisation of relations with the UAE has given Israel a win just before a possible change of guard in the US, without any drastic change in its Palestinian policy.

If states like Bahrain and Oman follow suit, the region’s dynamics could completely change. Counter-intuitively, Israel’s new Arab friends might even coax the Jewish state into agreeing to a two-state solution with the Palestinians. Though the Palestinian Authority will not be holding its breath on this count.

India's Role

India welcomed the agreement and expect the full normalisation of Israel-UAE ties, while endorsing the two-state solution, its default position and exhorted the Israel and the Palestinians to work for a comprehensive peace deal. India has consistently supported peace, stability and development in West Asia, which is its extended neighbourhood. Both nations are key strategic partners of India.

The fog over the emerging re-alignments in the region has officially lifted. India’s strategic partnership with Israel, Saudi Arabia and UAE is a major pillar of India’s relationship with the West Asian region. This partnership will be strengthened.

Way Forward for India

India should use this unexpected opportunity to give itself a bigger role in a region which is its strategic backyard. The first step should be to ramp up defence and security relations with UAE. Israel is already a very close defence partner. But India should restart joint exercises with UAE, and even Saudi Arabia. While some work has already happened, India should leverage its economy for a bigger opening in this region. Importantly, India can use its good offices to ensure that any future deal on a regional security framework gives adequate space to its interest.

Connecting the Article

Question for Prelims

Which of the following countries open out to Persian Gulf ?

1. UAE
2. Israel
3. Kuwait

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Question for Mains

With respect to the Israel-UAE peace agreement, discuss India's role in the West Asia in economic and strategic aspects.