- By Vivek Raj
- Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Israel-Palestine War: Jerusalem, a city of profound religious importance, comes alive during religious holidays, especially in the walled Old City, where Christian, Jewish and Islamic holy sites are in close proximity. The significance and influence of religion in Jerusalem are undeniable. It intertwines closely with Palestinian and Israeli nationalism, creating a complex web where religion, politics and identity intersect. Both sides hold Jerusalem sacred and consider it their capital.
The Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7 prompted varied responses from the Arab states in the Gulf region. Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who normalised their relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, have taken a cautious approach. Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar have attributed the violence to Israeli policies. In the meantime, Saudi Arabia has responded to the bloodshed by engaging with the Palestinian Authority and regional and international stakeholders. Some see the Palestinian offensive as a response to the Israeli-Saudi normalisation effort.
Hamas and Israel War: Gulf Coverage
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, expressed solidarity and a desire to contain the violence in separate calls with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, the King of Jordan and Egypt's president. According to the Saudi readout, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS) told Abbas that "the Kingdom is making every possible effort in communicating with all international and regional parties to stop the ongoing escalation and prevent its expansion in the region."
MbS and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi reportedly concurred on the need to intensify international and regional efforts to halt the escalation in Gaza and its surroundings. The Saudi readout added that the Crown Prince reaffirmed that "the Kingdom stands by the Palestinian people to achieve their legitimate rights, realise their hopes and aspirations, and achieve a just and lasting peace."
Riyadh highlighted "the continued occupation and depriving Palestinians of their legitimate rights and the repeated systematic provocations against their sanctities." On the same day, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) foreign ministries issued similar but more conservative statements.
UAE expressed concern over the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians and extended condolences to all the victims.
Bahrain cautioned that the continuation of fighting between Palestinian factions and Israeli forces in Gaza would negatively impact the security and stability of the entire region. In contrast, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar took a more assertive stance, voicing their support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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The Qatari foreign ministry held Israel solely responsible for the escalation and urged the international community to compel Israel to cease its blatant violations. Kuwait stated that the violence resulted from the Israeli occupation's blatant violations and attacks on Palestinians, reaffirming its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Oman charged that the bloodshed was ultimately "the result of the ongoing illegitimate Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and Israeli attacks on Palestinian towns and villages."
Regional Diplomatic Relations with Israel in 2023
In terms of regional diplomatic relations with Israel in 2023, it's worth noting that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a statement mirroring the stance of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. The GCC held "the Israeli occupation forces responsible” for the violence, saying that it was the result of “continuous and flagrant Israeli attacks" on Palestinians.
Following the October 7 attack, the hashtag #AlAqsa_Flood in Arabic, representing the Palestinian offensive, gained traction on X (formerly Twitter), with users from Gulf Arab states engaging in debates regarding the possible aims and consequences of these developments.
Saudi columnist Abdullah Al-Jedai argued that the Israeli-Saudi normalization efforts, driven by the Joe Biden administration, faced obstacles due to "reservations about the Saudi demands for a nuclear reactor…and [Israel’s] abstaining from presenting tangible concessions to the Palestinians."
Kuwaiti political analyst Fahd Al-Shelaimi contended that despite Hamas's military and popular tactical successes, the ultimate outcome would not favour the Palestinians, predicting Israel's response with what he termed "hysterical strikes" on Gaza.
Analysing the Gulf Stance
Bahrain and the UAE's relatively neutral stances can be attributed to their prior normalisation of relations with Israel. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia finds itself in a challenging position due to the Hamas offensive and the subsequent conflict. The Kingdom has been actively pursuing normalisation with Israel, a move encouraged by the Biden administration. However, aligning with Tel Aviv, especially at this juncture, could have adverse political consequences for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS).
As part of their negotiations for establishing formal ties with Israel, Saudi Arabia has reportedly sought a NATO-like mutual defence agreement with the US, assistance for a domestic nuclear program, and advanced American weaponry. Riyadh has also pressed for concessions concerning the Palestinian issue.
In parallel, Riyadh has recently engaged with Palestinian groups, including Hamas. Earlier this year, high-ranking officials from the Gaza-based organisation visited Saudi Arabia for the first time since 2015. Observers in the Arab world have noted that normalisation between Riyadh and Tel Aviv would be a political win for President Biden in the 2024 US presidential elections.
The stance of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar against Israel reflects their rejection of normalisation in the absence of a Palestinian resolution. While Doha and Muscat maintain varying degrees of communication with Israel, it is predominantly in a mediation role.
What the Future Holds?
Looking ahead, Bahrain and the UAE are likely to maintain their efforts to distance themselves from the Gaza violence. On the other hand, Gulf Arab states like Kuwait, Oman and Qatar are expected to persist in expressing criticism of Israel, potentially affecting the overall tone of the GCC.
As for Saudi Arabia, the situation in Gaza presents both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, the Kingdom's push for normalisation with Israel is likely to be temporarily halted, especially if the conflict expands.
However, if the violence remains contained in the weeks to come, this could offer Saudi Arabia an opportunity to assertively seek concessions from the US in exchange for normalisation. Such a move might find support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has strong reasons to showcase that peace with Arab states can be achieved without making substantial concessions to the Palestinians.