Fraternal enemies: Israel and the Gulf monarchies

In: Oxford scholarship online

Abstract

Relations between Israel & the Gulf states are not anything new. In the immediate aftermath of the 1993 Oslo Accords, both Qatar & Oman established low-level yet open diplomatic ties with Israel. In 2010, Ha'aretz reported that the former Israeli foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, was on friendly terms with Shaykh Abdullah bin Zayed despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties between the two states. The shared suspicion towards the regional designs of Iran that underpinned these ties even extended to a secret dialogue between Israel & Saudi Arabia. Cooperation between Israel & Saudi Arabia in thwarting Iran's regional ambitions also casts light on Washington's lack of strategic leadership. Jones & Guzansky contend that ties between Israel & many of its Gulf counterparts are now more vibrant than ever before. They constitute a tacit security regime which does not preclude competition in other areas.