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Gaza War Strains Israel’s Ties Across the Arab World
Israel has relationships with some Arab countries and no official relationships with others.
The war that followed Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023 has made some of these relationships more difficult.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates still talk, and their leaders reportedly met in September.
Egypt and Jordan have peace agreements with Israel, but concerns about Palestinians have added strain.
Bahrain also has formal ties with Israel.
Saudi Arabia has not established diplomatic relations and has supported a plan tying normalization to a Palestinian state.
Oman, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Their histories and reasons for not having ties are different.
Israel’s military actions in Gaza and Lebanon have strained relations with several Arab neighbours since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack.
Israel maintains diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, though ties with some have faced pressure.
The UAE acknowledged a September meeting between Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and said communication between the countries remains open.
Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and has linked normalization proposals to Palestinian statehood and other issues.
Oman, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq have no diplomatic relations with Israel; the article describes varied past contacts and ongoing tensions.
- Who
- Israel and its Arab neighbours, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.
- What
- The article examines how the Gaza war and other Israeli actions have affected Israel’s relations with Arab countries.
- Where
- Israel and the wider Middle East.
- When
- Since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023; it also refers to a reported September meeting between Israeli and Emirati leaders.
- Why
- The war in Gaza and Israel’s subsequent actions, including its military campaign in Lebanon, have strained regional ties.
Normalization and continued communication
Ties strained by Palestinian issue
Maintaining official ties
Normalization and continued communication
The UAE says Israel and the UAE have maintained open, direct communication since relations began in 2020; Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain also have formal relations with Israel.
Ties strained by Palestinian issue
The article says Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon have strained ties, while anger over the treatment of Palestinians has grown in Jordan and Egypt has called Palestinian displacement a red line.
Future Saudi-Israel relations
Normalization and continued communication
Saudi Arabia has kept the door open to future ties with Israel, and Israel has signalled willingness to act against Iran-backed Houthis and support Saudi Arabia.
Ties strained by Palestinian issue
Saudi Arabia has not indicated an intention to seek Israeli assistance and has backed a proposal making normalization conditional on establishing a Palestinian state, among other measures.
Key facts
- Hamas attack
- The attack took place on 7 October 2023.
- Reported UAE meeting
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in September.
- UAE-Israel ties
- The two countries normalized relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
- Egypt-Israel peace deal
- The article dates the first peace deal between Israel and an Arab neighbour to 1978.
- Jordan-Israel peace deal
- Jordan and Israel have had a peace deal since 1994.
- Saudi position
- Saudi Arabia has no diplomatic relations with Israel and has supported a normalization proposal tied to establishing a Palestinian state.
- Countries without diplomatic relations
- The article lists Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq as having no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Sources
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