It really is progress. Trump can’t take too much credit–the Administration proposal pretty much gave the Israelis the green light to annex more Palestinian territory. When the United Arab Emirates gave a choice to Israel of either annexation or normalization of relations, Netanyahu opted for normalization.
Netanyahu wants Trump to win, and he also wants to crack the Arab solid wall against him. The United Arab Emirates not only got normal relations with the most prosperous state in the middle east, but they also will get American F-35 fighter jets, Reaper drones, and Growler jets.
Saudi Arabia, that bastion of liberal democracy, also gets a boost in its rivalry with Iran. Planes flying between Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates must fly over Saudi airspace, so the Saudis had to approve the deal.
The Palestinians may have even gotten something. The fact that Netanyahu has given up further annexation efforts may mean increased pressure to do more for the Palestinians in order to get more Arab states to normalize relations.
I doubt if the Trump administration actually had much to do with the deal, but if it makes him feel good, that’s fine. It is a step forward.
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