Palestinian issue remains vital in Arab-Israeli ties

Breakthrough point

Israel has been in contact with some Arab countries and hopes to use the UAE deal as a breakthrough point to continue to ease relations with Arab countries. It has been trying to do this since the 1990s.

But the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel may not be a turning point for peace in the Middle East. Nor will it bring significant progress to the settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli issue, the researcher said.

"Regardless of whether or not Israel and the UAE have reached a peace agreement, it might not be helpful in dealing with the problem."

Although agreements had been reached regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and other issues, there are still several key factors that remain unchanged. This may result in a situation in which the so-called peace agreement "will not bring any substantive progress".

"The Palestinian side believes that such a peace agreement is a betrayal. But in fact, Arab countries have no time to spare for the Palestinian issue and such situation still remains unchanged," she said, adding this was due to the external and internal troubles the Arab countries are facing.

Under such circumstances, Shu said Arab countries' support to Palestine has been "more in words than in deeds".

Saudi Arabia said it would not follow the UAE's example until Israel signed a peace deal with the Palestinians.

Bahrain received an Israeli delegation on Oct 18 in the formal normalization of ties between the two sides, while still emphasizing the two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

On the other hand, Shu said the hard-line stance of Israeli right-wing forces represented by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not changed as well.

Although Israel said it would suspend the annexation of parts of the West Bank while normalizing relations with the UAE, Netanyahu insisted he still plans to exercise sovereignty over the area.

"No matter how many agreements Israel signs with Arab countries, it will not fundamentally change Israel's tough position toward Palestine," Shu said.

Eventually, those agreements signed by Israel, the US and other Arab countries can only satisfy their respective interests. It will not promote substantive progress in solving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.