The Israeli-Arab conflict was dominated for decades by an unassailable, clear paradigm: Arab states would never normalize ties with Israel, nor recognize it or conduct any kind of public relationship with it as long as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was unresolved, or at least significant progress was made toward resolving it. Even the Saudi peace proposal, which morphed into the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, clearly stipulated this precondition. You will only reap the rewards of normal ties with the Arab world once you recognize this initiative as the basis for negotiations, the Arab League has been telling Israel ever since. Israel never formally responded to the initiative. In 2009, the Saudis, for their part, flat-out dismissed US President Barack Obama’s request for a symbolic goodwill gesture toward Israel of allowing Israeli passenger planes to overfly Saudi airspace on their way to India. This week, according to Israeli sources, Saudi Arabia expressed willingness to permit Israeli overflights en route from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
What has changed since? Has this paradigm been shattered and buried? All indications are that it has, indeed. Not only are the Emirates about to sign a deal establishing official ties with Israel, they are proud of their decision. Not only is the Arab world not condemning the move, many countries are praising it. And in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), rather than griping about the regime’s move, residents are enthusiastic.
