Israel wins big in Mideast peace deal

Israel is likely to emerge as the biggest winner of Tuesday's historic peace deal, as it will help build a United States-led alliance against Iran, strengthen security ties with wealthy new allies, and potentially save the career of the country's embattled prime minister.

The accords unlock dozens of trade deals in aviation, tourism, and the country's advanced tech industry, with direct flights due to start running from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi.

The Abraham Accord should also improve Benjamin Netanyahu's reputation at home, as he faces mass protests against his leadership, a corruption trial and a severe second wave of coronavirus.

But more importantly, the prestige of securing peace with two more Arab nations, following the accords of the past with Egypt and Jordan, leaves Israel far less isolated in a hostile region.

For some time now, Israel has co-operated on security issues with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, but largely under the radar. Now that security relationship can continue in public, with concerns about the growing regional influence of Iran being a key area of common ground.

Iranian influence is of particular concern for Bahrain, because until 1969 the regime claimed it was part of its territory. As for the U.A.E., a small, oil-rich nation in the Persian Gulf, it harbours grand ambitions of becoming a key political power in the Middle East.

This deal will lend credibility to that goal, but Emirati officials stress that they also secured a significant concession from Israel in regard to the Palestinian issue. Earlier this year, Israel announced it would annex up to 30 per cent of the West Bank, prompting a storm of criticism.

But the U.A.E. says it has convinced Israel to postpone that move, in return for a full diplomatic relationship and enhanced trade with the Gulf state.

As well, the U.A.E. hopes that this deal will dispel the notion that its foreign policy is strongly influenced by Saudi Arabia.

It also appears, now the ink on the agreement is dry, that Donald Trump is willing to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to the U.A.E., granting it a military prowess that could rival Saudi Arabia.

On the U.S. side, the president is looking for any opportunity to present himself as a genius in foreign policy. As the deal stands to hugely benefit Israel, it should go down well with the Republican right and Trump's base of evangelical Christians.

And if that wasn't enough, the Abraham Accord has also led to Trump being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.