President Donald trump and his administration want to convince and misinform Americans, and the world, that the historic peace deal “Abraham Accord” between US, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Israel is an agreement that will bring peace, security, and prosperity, calling it a “dew dawn” for the Middle East.
“Our vision is one of peace, security, and prosperity-in this region, and the world,” said Trump. “Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to God.”
The Middle East has been longing to end conflicts and bring peace and security to the region. Trump and his administration did not end one single conflict with their peace deal. Instead, they are creating more conflicts within the region, while raising tensions. Especially after the withdrawal of the United States from the Iranian nuclear deal, which former president Barack Obama had established.
So, what “new dawn” is president Trump really talking about? He continues to call it a historic peace deal between Arab countries that were not even in conflict with Israel. Besides, Israel was not involved in a war with the UAE or Bahrain. As a matter of fact, Israel had been cooperating with the UAE and Bahrain silently for years.
If anything, this agreement is more of an alliance than an agreement directed at the regional powers. According to Joost Hiltermann, Program Director at Crisis group, the conflicts in the region have lately begun into other conflicts and new lines are being drawn, basically between two emerging powers: the US and its alliance: Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE opposed to Iran and its local allies in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Hezbollah in Lebanon. And these two sides are choosing the Middle East as their battleground.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government could not be prouder of the accomplishment they made for the security and future of Israel by signing this peace agreement- which came at a perfect time to help Netanyahu, who was struggling to manage multiple crises such as the coronavirus pandemic and an ongoing corruption trial.
Also, the timing of the announcement seemed as if it was meant to help president Trump who is struggling politically. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Trump negotiating a peace deal in the Middle East was just a distraction on a day when the focus should have been on the growing cases of COVID-19 in the country.
If the U.S, Israel, UAE, and Bahrain genuinely want to establish security and peace in the region and the world, then what about solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict first? They are choosing to ignore the Palestinians and their struggles for freedom and rights in their homeland, which is the core of the conflicts in the Middle East. Their actions are not going to bring peace nor security to anyone.
It is obvious that the well-being of Palestinians is not under much consideration on behalf of any of the countries that signed this “historic peace deal.” More than half a century has passed, and the Palestinians are still suffering from Israel’s occupation, collective punishments in Gaza, and denying Palestinian refugees the right to return. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohmmad Shtayyeh called the deal arrangement “a black day in the history of Arab nations.”
In fact, the U.S has been putting tremendous pressure on Palestinians to accept whatever Trump thinks is best for them and their future, which comes off as nothing more than bullying. The U.S. stopped all aid to the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza after The Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act (ATCA) came into force. The Trump administration also closed the Palestinian delegation’s office in Washington DC., recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and slashed funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees. Claiming, that Palestinians have “not taken steps to advance the start of direct meaningful negotiation with Israel,” said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
It is obvious that President Trump is confident that by bringing the Palestinians to their knees they will be forced to accept any deal. Ultimately, this peace agreement is not getting people and countries in conflict together, it is really nothing but a sham that only bringing Trump and his alliance together for more wars.
