Israel, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates will today sign peace agreements in Washington, heralding a new era of friendship between wealthy Gulf nations and the Jewish state. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has flown to Washington to attend the ceremony in the White House, along with his Emirati and Bahraini counterparts. Donald Trump, the US president, who oversaw the negotiations, has hailed a “historic breakthrough” for his “great friends” in the region, which he hopes will enhance his foreign policy credentials ahead of elections in November. But other Middle Eastern countries, notably Iran and Turkey, have strongly condemned the agreement, which they believe spells disaster for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and could harm their own regional ambitions. Here we look at how the so-called Abraham Accord will change the Middle East, and who will emerge from the historic deal as the key winners and losers. Israel The Jewish state arguably stands to benefit more from these agreements than any other country. For starters, they unlock dozens of trade deals in aviation, tourism, and the country’s advanced tech industry, with direct flights due to start running from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi. The Abraham Accords should also improve Mr Netanyahu’s reputation at home, as he faces mass protests against his leadership, a lengthy corruption trial and a severe second wave of coronavirus. But more importantly, the prestige of securing peace with two Arab nations, following similar accords in the past with Egypt and Jordan, leaves Israel far less isolated in a hostile region.
