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Trump gave Israel half of Jerusalem and no incentive not to take it all.
The U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords have not succeeded in their promise, as then-national security adviser Robert O'Brien said in the Oval Office at Trump's behest, "in bringing peace to the Middle East," essentially muzzling signatory countries from providing anything but token criticism of the violence. Rather, analysts say, the accords involving the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have undercut Palestinians' traditional supporters and empowered Israel, which has capitalized in recent months on a policy that appears to persist under the Biden administration of not imposing pressure on the Jewish state.
"It adds to a general sense of triumphalism in Israel, the sense of impunity: 'People kept telling us we had to resolve the Palestinian issue. And now, clearly, we don't,'" says Khaled Elgindy, director of the Palestinian-Israel Affairs Program at the Middle East Institute.
The visceral scenes have put added pressure on the countries that have signed Abraham Accords with Israel, particularly the United Arab Emirates – the first country to do so – and Bahrain, driving a further wedge between the autocratic governments that agreed to the accords and their people, who increasingly voice support for their fellow Arabs engaged in the violent clashes.
Those familiar with regional security concerns say leaders in the region – particularly signatories to the Abraham Accords – now face new concerns that Israel's actions will increase popular support for Hamas, which is partially backed by Iran, as Israeli airstrikes kill more civilians, including children.
"It opens up countries like the UAE and Bahrain to being characterized as 'sell-outs' for not standing up to Israel," says Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at private intelligence firm The Soufan Group. "The optics are terrible. It can't be a good look in any Arab country to be seen as supporting Netanyahu's agenda right now."
And he adds the situation will likely have immediate implications for some of the most potent security threats in the region.
"It also makes the UAE look weak and Iran look strong for standing up to Israel and for continued support to Hamas and other militant groups," Clarke says.
The U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords have not succeeded in their promise, as then-national security adviser Robert O'Brien said in the Oval Office at Trump's behest, "in bringing peace to the Middle East," essentially muzzling signatory countries from providing anything but token criticism of the violence. Rather, analysts say, the accords involving the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan have undercut Palestinians' traditional supporters and empowered Israel, which has capitalized in recent months on a policy that appears to persist under the Biden administration of not imposing pressure on the Jewish state.
"It adds to a general sense of triumphalism in Israel, the sense of impunity: 'People kept telling us we had to resolve the Palestinian issue. And now, clearly, we don't,'" says Khaled Elgindy, director of the Palestinian-Israel Affairs Program at the Middle East Institute.
The visceral scenes have put added pressure on the countries that have signed Abraham Accords with Israel, particularly the United Arab Emirates – the first country to do so – and Bahrain, driving a further wedge between the autocratic governments that agreed to the accords and their people, who increasingly voice support for their fellow Arabs engaged in the violent clashes.
Those familiar with regional security concerns say leaders in the region – particularly signatories to the Abraham Accords – now face new concerns that Israel's actions will increase popular support for Hamas, which is partially backed by Iran, as Israeli airstrikes kill more civilians, including children.
"It opens up countries like the UAE and Bahrain to being characterized as 'sell-outs' for not standing up to Israel," says Colin Clarke, director of policy and research at private intelligence firm The Soufan Group. "The optics are terrible. It can't be a good look in any Arab country to be seen as supporting Netanyahu's agenda right now."
And he adds the situation will likely have immediate implications for some of the most potent security threats in the region.
"It also makes the UAE look weak and Iran look strong for standing up to Israel and for continued support to Hamas and other militant groups," Clarke says.
