Benjamin Netanyahu had reason to be triumphant when he addressed his nation after Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced a deal to establish full diplomatic ties. It was, for him, “an incomparably exciting moment”.
For years, Israel’s prime minister covertly courted Gulf states as he strove to improve the Jewish state’s relations with Arab countries, while not giving an inch to Palestinians. Using their common fears over Iran’s influence and interest in Israel’s technological advances, particularly in security, he nurtured informal co-operation with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Last week, the UAE, with US backing, delivered the prize he has long sought: the promise of normalised relations with a third Arab state.
It is a gift at a time when Israel is facing a worsening economic crisis and Mr Netanyahu’s coalition is unravelling. And the UAE is not just any Arab state, but arguably the most influential.