Update: This is now confirmed!
Joint Statement of the United States, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Israel pic.twitter.com/xMquRkGtpM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2020
Things continue to move quickly in the Middle East!
President Trump announced a peace deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel less than a month ago. El Al brought an Israeli and American delegation to Abu Dhabi, where the red carpet was rolled out. Then a deal with Saudi Arabia was announced to allow Israeli airlines to use their airspace to fly anywhere in the world. Commercial flights between Israel and the UAE may happen as soon as next month.
Bahrain approved Israeli airlines to use their airspace yesterday.
And now it’s being reported that President Trump will announce later today that the gulf state of Bahrain will normalize their relationship and make peace with Israel!
Iran has pushed the Arabian Gulf into peace that would have seemed absurd in the past.
If the report is true, that’s incredible news. I can’t wait to be able to fly between Israel and countries across the Arabian Gulf!
Peace across the Middle East may well turn out to be the bright spot of 2020.
Which country will be next to make peace with Israel? Oman? Morocco? Kuwait? Saudi Arabia?
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107 Comments On "[Update: Confirmed!] INCREDIBLE! President Trump Just Announced A Peace Deal Between Israel And Bahrain!"
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“I can’t wait to be able to fly between Israel and countries across the Arabian Gulf!”
Just curious, Dan, why are you so excited personally about being able to fly between IL and countries across the Arabian Gulf? Of course that amazing but for you personally how often are you in that region that it would mean that much to you already? Were are you going from IL already?:)
I usually go to Israel every year. It would be awesome to be able to hop between Israel and the gulf states on those trips and get to try new airlines and experience new countries that are opening their arms to Israel.
But Bahrain is tiny! Why is their airspace such a big deal (assuming that you arent flying into Bahrain)
Obviously talking about adding Bahrain to my list of countries visited.
As an American citizen you were able to do that already.
Flying into Bahrain or UAE as an American citizen feels different than flying into Bahrain and UAE as an Orthodox Jew and feeling the warmth.
And the more I read about it the more it seems that there is genuine warmth there for Jews.
Abu Dahbi just ordered all hotels to provide kosher food for guests!!
Kuwait would be a shocker.
Saudi Arabia recently stated that they will not sign a peace agreement with Israel until the Palestinians have their own state. Maybe also Morocco?
They’re saying that for now as they see how things play out.
Morocco is certainly a good bet, and flights from CMN-TLV would be great!
Dan, it’d be silly to compare Pakistan to any of the countries that have made peace with Israel. The deals are likely very unpopular, and so far no elected governments have made peace. When you’re not answerable to anyone but your own interests, in the case of kings, emirs, and princes, you can do things that your people would otherwise throw you out of office for. Is there an Arab government that was democratically answerable that has made peace with Israel? It’s a very important point here
Are you sure that so-called democratic states in MEA actually are answerable to their populations?
Wait until Trump offers them nukes to get the deal. IF UAE got our most sophisticated fighters, imagine what Saudia Arabia can get!
I’m not thrilled about that either, but it seems that Bibi approved that. I guess he figured that the pros outweighed the cons. Also, none of us know what else Israel or the USA has in their arsenals. Maybe the F-35 thing is much ado about nothing. Maybe Israel is hoping that the UAE will use them again Iran.
Yeah, Bibi was AGAINST it until Pompeo paid a little visit and brought down the hammer.
For a long time, it was almost taken as a given that Pakistan’s nukes were to be considered the Saudi’s nukes of last resort. But Pakistan’s got some vestiges of democracy to such volatile extent that even the Pakistani military isn’t all what it used to be in Pakistan, try as it does to hang onto its legacy powers by playing both above and below the proverbial belt. And so Saudi Arabia considers them unreliable and has needed a backup plan, more so against Iran than anyone else, and that backup plan involves an Israeli alliance. Also the Pakistanis have gotten closer to Turkey and there is a regional power rivalry between Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The UAE has its own nuclear program, one further enabled by the Trump Administration. They also are ahead of the Saudis on missile know how. Think of the UAE as the West Asia’s version of East Asia’s Taiwan: a creative player heavy into defense investment against a perceived enemy across the water with which its deep in business too.
The UAE is better positioned to get more outsized return from Washington than the Saudis. The UAE is even responsible for MBS’s rehabilitation in DC, even after the gruesome murder of Jamal Kashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey. If the Saudis want or need something done in the US, its the Emiratis who seal the deal; and that’s because the Emiratis have run a way more effective and sophisticated lobbying/influence peddling game in DC than the Saudis, and this has been going on for quite some decades now.
A lot of countries have said a lot of things about israel. throw it all out the window.
None of the peace deals from the last month happen without KSA being ok with it.
You think UAE would normalize relations with Israel if they didn’t get approval from Riyadh?
I can see Iraq allowing Israeli flights flyover rights (to get on America’s good side)
No surprise!!
Its in this weeks Haftorah!
פַּנּ֖וּ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הָעָ֑ם סֹ֣לּוּ סֹ֤לּוּ הַֽמְסִלָּה֙ סַקְּל֣וּ מֵאֶ֔בֶן הָרִ֥ימוּ נֵ֖ס עַל־הָֽעַמִּֽים
Translation?
Sad to see Jews still believing all of this Navios apply to today’s secular state of Israel. We’re waiting for the true and ultimate redemption, while still thanking G-d for giving us a more peaceful Middle East in the meanwhile.
According to some ‘shitos’ the ultimate redemption will come ‘al pi derecg hateva’
so this is not sad.
Kuwait is not happening in near future.
Oman I would see as most likely to be next one.
Is there any country Dan would *not* desire visiting? Maybe North Korea? Perhaps Iran? Somalia? (Although with Iran…. there is an active Jewish community there, with rich history, including seeing the burial of Mordechai and Esther)
I’d love to visit Iran. Just not willing to risk my life for it, so I need to live vicariously through crazier people than me who do go there:
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=46705.0
I’m a Persian Jew and I know lots of Persian Jews from NY and LA that fly to Iran all the time. After Israel, iran has the most population of Jews in the Middle East (and I think the only other place with a real community)
It’s different for a Persian who can fit right in than for an American.
Absolutely. You might be more liable to find trouble as an “American” vs. a Jew
Yes, this is true. I even know many Persians Jews who had to end there trip early because they heard the government was on to them or got put in jail when they arrived. Most Jews from Iran have a relative who escaped the country and is therefore on the wanted list in Iran.
This has been confirmed by Axios
Are you not afraid of going to some of these places while being obviously and visibly Jewish? Heck, I wouldn’t even visit some European countries myself.
Paris is scarier than Dubai or Abu Dhabi. I felt very safe.
Yes, that’s what I had in mind – several people I know have been violently attacked on the streets of Paris. But I don’t see how people can feel comfortable going to Germany or other similar places either, it would make my skin crawl.
Agreed!
Paris is worst than Dubai and I have been in both places!
Propaganda. Jimmy Carter brokered peace between Israel and Egypt – an enemy that actually posed an existential threat to Israel. That peace has lasted over 50 years. Now *that* was an accomplishment.
1. Who is taking away from that?
2. I’d feel comfortable walking around Bahrain or the UAE today. I wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around Egypt today.
Just offering some perspective.
Then you probably felt safe walking around Bahrain before this “peace” deal. You just weren’t allowed to. Peace is usually made between enemies. This is more like a travel arrangement.
Are Americans even allowed to visit Bahrain? Almost every other country has banned Americans because Trump botched the pandemic (and continues to both it).
I’m not a fan of how the President handled the pandemic, but I don’t let that cloud my judgement from calling each individual thing as I see it.
These deals are nothing short of incredible. A month ago an Israeli couldn’t visit the UAE. Now they’re rolling out the red carpet for an El Al plane and Saudi Arabia has just changed Israeli aviation for good thanks to lifting airspace restrictions. Hotels in Abu Dhabi are being asked to carry kosher food.
You need to be pretty jaded not to appreciate all of this.
These travel arrangements between non-adversarial countries have a condition attached to them. Israel agreed it wouldn’t annex land in the West Bank. Netanyahu has already assured his coalition that he will renneg on Israel’s end of the bargain.
“non-adversarial countries”
This has to be trolling. Just has to be.
I think we can all agree at this point that there is very little to do to stop the spread besides isolating vulnerable so the statement handling the pandemic is pretty pathetic
I don’t agree at all. If that were true, why is Canada doing so well?
Also, had NY/NJ been able to slow the curve, thousands of lives would have been saved as we learned how to properly treat people along the way. That’s certainly not all on Trump. Cuomo and DeBlasio are definitely at fault as well.
And, https://www.dansdeals.com/points-travel/israel/president-trump-announce-peace-israel-bahrain/#comment-1492205
Than how is it possible that europe is seeing a new wave they had all the proper precautions in place I am not denying that there are isolated examples that did well ie. Germany New Zealand etc but on a large scale it’s hard to say.
Look at California it was in partial lockdown when it spiked for the second time is easy to blame anti masers etc but I think the facts speak for itself
They even had a top campaign adviser for Biden on a interview and asked what Biden would’ve done different he didn’t have what to answer
happens to be that the numbers in Canada are starting to rise as they slowly open things there.
Why is Canada doing so well? Because no one lives there! There are more people in NY state than the entire Canada. Pretty easy to figure out. They don’t live on top of each other for the most part.
Daniel, if you love Carter so much why not read his book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid”. You’ll get plenty of the one-sided views which you are attracted with.
So brokering a major peace deal between Israel and its most threatening enemy at the time isn’t a big deal? But brokering a travel arrangement with Bahrain is?
Carter was widely known to never have been fair to Israel or on their behalf; I have no admiration for Carter and really nothing to think highly about him. There have been some other remarkable achievements for Israel from both Dems and Repubs through the years, but I am going to bet my poker chips that your life revolves around Democrat= good, Republicans=bad. I didn’t like Pres. Obama, but when there was positive progress, I positively noted it and appreciated it. If you can’t find 1 positive outcome from the Trump Administration, then there isn’t much more dialogue to converse with you about. I’m going to sense it’s all “racist, white supremacist, Nazi, hates immigrants” rhetoric from you. I admire the expansion of Israel’s relationship with other nations, and I value that Trump didn’t take us into another war.
Dave, your assumption about me is wrong. I’m actually a Republican who can credit a Democrat when said Democrat brokers a historic peace deal. As far as peace deals go, the Egypt deal takes the cake. Egypt and Israel were fighting wars and Egypt had the power to place Israel under an embargo. This Bahrain travel arrangement is small potatoes.
Now, if Trump brokered closer ties between Israel and, say, Iran or China, that would be historic. But actually, Israel and China are trying to form closer ties and Trump won’t let them. Trump is threatening to cut off military aid to Israel if Israel deals with China, a world superpower.
Egypt was a huge deal, no question about it. But don’t forget that Israel had a huge bargaining chip that Egypt wanted – Sinai Peninsula. Moreover, Egypt stuck Israel with the Gaza Strip…they weren’t willing to take that back
R, if (dessert) land is such a strong bargaining chip for Israel, why can’t Israel hammer out a deal with the Palestinians? THAT would be historic.
Don’t forget, Egypt’s president sacrificed his life for peace. He knew the peace deal would result in a fatwa against him.
Seriously? Bc the Palestianins said no to every offer that they ever got! As they saying goes, the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity
Yitz, every nation wants to be independent. Having land is not enough if you are still at the mercy of an adversary.
Well then you just answered your own question. Anyway dont be ridiculous. The Palestinians dont recognize Isralei right to any part of Israel. No arab negotiator will deny that. They say that Tel Aviv is stolen land just like the west bank is. You know that if the Israelis put down their arms and offered the arabs anything they wanted they would be dead the next day. All you need to do is look at Gaza.
If they want to have their own state and be interdependent then they should act like adults instead of like 3 year olds. Thats exactly why the UAE etc is making peace now. Bc they have recognized that the Palestinians are their own worst enemy incapable of doing anything.
Yitz, the same talking points were used against Egypt before Jimmy Carter brokered a peace deal. Israel and UAE weren’t fighting. They already had peace.
What “talking points” were used against Egypt? I have no idea what you are talking about to be honest.
Look if you want to call it a “relationship treaty” rather than a “peace treaty”, I get that. It doesn’t change the fact that this alters the middle east for the good in a huge way. Its something that cant be overstated. Its a massive breakthrough that changes the Chess game entirely. The peace with Egypt and Jordan is a cold peace. Not that thats not good anyway but it just prevented a regression/ war. It didnt actively move the region fwd. No red carpets were rolled out there. I hope you get what I am saying
“Egypt will never recognize Israel”
“If Israel puts down its arms bla bla bla…” (nobody is suggesting they do that)
You’re definitely overstating this travel arrangement. Israel and UAE were already doing business. They were already strategic partners against Iran. They already had diplomatic relations and were meeting at least twice a year. UAE already stated publicly that they want Israeli tourists and capital. This is just a lot of propaganda.
Dan I respect you and your takes (and agree a good chunk of the time) But Feeling comfortable in the country, isn’t relevant to real peace.
The Israel-Egypt deal was by far the best deal Israel has ever done with any country or entity. So @Daniel is correct in saying that it’s a real accomplishment. Two countries that fought bloody wars with each other. Making and keeping peace/security coordination for this long – is more important than Dudu going on a roller coaster in Ferrari world. There was never bad blood. News of these relations are cool, but wayyy overblown.
It is now safer for a Jew to walk the streets in UAE( and soon Bahrain) than it is in Europe. 2020 continues to amaze!!
Is it really?
The UAE is an authoritarian state that runs a high tech massive surveillance state within its borders. I would rather live free to express my peaceful opinions and discuss values than to have to be afraid of the state powers taking aim at me for just that.
Being proclaimed safe as a captive animal in the proverbial state zoo isn’t for me.
How about Charlottesville? Feel safe there?!
Really?
Yes. I do feel safe there. Why do you ask?
Ann was trying to make a Trump dig with the liberal favorite “Charlottesville”
Can I mention “Benghazi,” to trigger the Repubs? I mean, how many investigations for 3 people being killed, as opposed to nearly 200,000 murdered in the US this year.
murdered?!Come on the thing is uncontrollable at least he didnt send sick people into nursing homes. Who would do that??? Oh right cnn’s darling governor.
200,000? That number seems to be quite subjective due to facts that are coming out. Last I heard, the number of deaths that were only related to covid-19 was around 9,000.. but I doubt anyone will ever know the actual number since misinformation seems to be the norm now.
Sure, why not? According to crime stats, Charlottesville has below average crime rates. Plus there is a Chabad in that town (Rohr Chabad House at The University of Virginia)
well you pulled that right out of nowhere, didnt you?
TDS is real, and charlottesville has nothing to do with this conversation. Anyone can pull out random issues from either side, but what does that accomplish?
Oman will be next.
Netanyahu has already been on the ground in Oman and met the former Sultan and the person who has since become the new Sultan of the country. And that was a couple of years ago.
Dan,
can we get the first official dansdeals presidential endorsement?
While this is great, it’s not like there was ever “war” between the countries. It’s merely a poor political spin by Trump and Netanyahu. Let us know when they make peace with Iran, Lebanon, Syria and the likes.
so anything positive by the trump administration is a spin or a distraction? Ive heard that said about the 3000 troops he just ordered back from the middle east too. Strangely though, I haven’t heard any chatter about the bill he passed that lowered insulin cost to 15 bucks from the previous $400 for patients. Thats going to save lives. But I also haven’t seen that reported at all in the media, it doesn’t fit the narrative.
By this train of thought, he might as well just do nothing until after the elections right?
Was BB’s plan to annex part of a subterfuge to get these peace deals started? To make it seem like they are giving up something?
I’d say that’s a strong possibility.
Typival Trump playbook move!
To be honest, I’m not too surprised. With the exception of the last 100/150 years, the Jews have historically been much better friends with the Muslims than with the Christians
Sorry that is a myth. Many pogroms against Jews pre 1948.. Morocco 1937 comes to mind, several in Iraq pre WW2, in Yemen a Jew couldn’t ride on a donkey lest he be ‘ higher’ than a Muslim. Jews couldnt walk on the same side of the street. But the ‘ peaceful Jew Muslim lovefest’ pre 1948 is a favorite myth of Aran propagandists who loathe Zionism.
Only half the 1.5 million population of Bahrain is Arab — the rest are Asians, mostly imported to do the kind of work that immigrants do everywhere. The land area of Bahrain is about 25% that of Cleveland’s Cuyahoga County. They do have oil.
Time will tell whether there are undisclosed side agreements involving the Palestinians that encouraged Bahrain and the Emirates to take this step. For now, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” — it’s all about Iran, where 80 million people and a nuclear program should be a concern to the entire world.
Meanwhile, Trump is blocking Israel from signing a deal with China. Trump is threatening to cut off military aid to Israel if Israel forms a closer relationship with the world superpower.
I support Israel 200% and I think the rapprochement with China is not only wrong, but dangerous to Israel. Giving them control of major ports like Haifa and ashdod? Insane. U can’t be a Light unto the Nations and dismiss Chinese concentration camps and security state abuses. They are too big, too powerful and too aggressive to trust.
Sifter, I don’t think the United States should be dictating to Israel what’s in Israel’s own national security interests. Especially this joke of an administration.
Regarding the Uyghurs, didn’t Trump say he doesn’t care about human rights abuses? Look at what the UAE and Bahrain are doing in Yemen! If countries like Israel want to sanction elites in China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, Syria, etc., I would support that. But that isn’t what’s happening here.
Can you imagine if this was President Obama sending our most advanced weapons to the Arabs while dictating to Israel? The right wing heads would be exploding.
Oh the irony… WW2 led to the creation of Israel. The Jews were unjustly persecuted. Since the creation of Israel and since they were able to take up a stronghold in the region the Israelis have treated the Palestinians as mosquitos. Building walls and continually encroaching on their land while subjecting them to gestapo like circumstances. Oh the irony… As a muslim, i detest all these oil money rich middle east countries. They’ve sold their soul in the name of dollars. And do nothing for their common man or fellow muslim. The Israeli government doesnt want peace they want domination. They’re racists. And please dont come at me with that anti-semite bs. Love Dansdeals. But if you post about politics i have the right to voice my opinion as well. Thanks for posting.
I don’t see a peace agreement as posting about politics, I see it as posting about peace as it relates to travel.
Despite what you think, Israel certainly wants peace, it just has to come at a reasonable cost. I hope that day comes soon, inshallah.
Love you Dan. Wish you were running Israel over that fool BB. I see your point as it relates to travel. Honestly having been to a lot of these countries, theres not much to see there. No culture or history. Just places built up over oil money. Serving the European and USA’s purpose. They’re soul-less places. I’ve never been, but would much rather travel to Israel where there is SO much human history and culture. I dont think its just or fair to be persecuted against just because your Jewish or Israeli just like like i dont think its fair the way the Israeli govt dispenses with the downtrodden Palestinians. Yea, the Israeli govt wants peace right… Which is why they’ve been advocating for war against Iran for decades. Go back and look at all the speeches the idiot BB has given at the UN saying Iran is close to getting nukes, for decades!
Please present facts.
Define Palestinians and Palestine. No such thing, but I will use the term to reply.
Palestinians “persecuted’? they are treated better than they ever were, even terrorists are treated safely while Jews driving in a Palestinian area were decapitated.
Define downtrodden. Is it because they go through a security check just as I need to sometimes? Is it to enter a Bus Station, as I have to?
Visit the Hebrew University and observe. Visit a Hospital and see all the Drs are Palestinian, trained in Israel.
Huh? Any arab from any land can visit any where in Israel they would like. But arab countries are now begining to slowly let Israeli citizen in.
ddfan, I’ll just say this. An Israeli isn’t allowed to go to the Temple Mount, isn’t allowed to attend a university in the PA, can’t vote there, can’t attain a government position, would face consequences if shared that he/she is LGBTQ. All the opposite privileges for Palestinians while in Israel. When Palestine will allow me (as a Jew) to vote or attend a university over there, then we can’t talk about racism. In the mean-time, enjoy those opportunities that Israel affords Palestinians.
An Arab can walk the streets of Jerusalem no problem but if a Jew wanders off the highway by accident he may get lynched.
Too bad he could care less about peace in the US.
His legacy will be that of divider-in-chief. Leading to civil war.
Bahrain is tiny . Airspace not nogea
And what is your problem with the way President Trump handled the pandemic? Even your Fauci person, on various interviews in February said they were all working 20 hours each day and that he was Very Impressed with how the White House was handling everything. How can anyone support the Bernie sanders run campaign anyway? Trump has done so many things for the USA, this is just another example of his time, efforts and devotion to making things better.
Lying Donny admitted yesterday to watching 8 hours of TV a day. I wish I had that schedule! But then again, I’m not responsible for murdering 200,000 Americans.
Your are joking, right? Trump cares about himself only and thinks everybody else is loser/sucker.
Good grief. Why jump from how I think Trump handled COVID-19 to supporting Bernie?
I formulate my opinions based on individual actions, not based on a party line. I’m happy to praise or criticize each action.
Perhaps Trump’s biggest pandemic mistake was politicizing and weaponizing masks, which appear to be one of our best weapons against needing to lock down again like Israel is about to. At the very conference where the CDC started advising masks, he said he would never wear one because they look silly. That’s not leadership. And that’s at least partially responsible for why the country is so divided over masks when other countries are not.
Very fair comment, Dan. And fully appreciate your response and agree with you, mostly.
As far as formulate individual’s opinion based on other individual’s actions. 99.9% of time, I would agree with you completely. It is just that Trump is not a normal individual. His tax cut does benefit me financially. That sounds good. However, he is a person without principle, has no shame, know nothing about duty, honor, and country, only greed and personal gain. For him to lead our country in his second term, without any worry about re-election, will be very dangerous. His pro Mid-East and anti-China gesture/actions are all for the show, in time for re-election. Whatever he gives can be taken away as soon as he gets re-elected. In his second term, the only milestone he needs to achieve is personal gain. China is the biggest market for his business. I won’t be surprise to him to fire Pompeo and embrace China right away. Likewise, for his Middle East policy. If he has nothing for him to gain, he would not hesitate to pivot anytime. In short, I think a person’s character is above and beyond his individual actions, and Trump is not a person that I can trust.
“ Perhaps Trump’s biggest pandemic mistake was politicizing and weaponizing masks, which appear to be one of our best weapons against needing to lock down again like Israel is about to”
With all due respect and Hoping to stay neutral here, Israel is insane with mask wearing. 500 shekel ticket for not wearing one. So… masks don’t necessarily seem to help avoid lockdowns like you mentioned
The funny thing about the mask fiasco is that the medical experts made him go and tell everyone that it doesn’t work because they thought it didn’t work then when they realized that it works and that they were wrong they than said they said it because they wanted to save the masks for the medical workers and left him holding the bag and having to answer for why he didn’t make people wear masks earlier and getting called a liar and the medical experts were getting hero interview on every tv network I’m not saying that trump is right for politicizing it there Is just more to it
(I’m sure everyone knows who I’m talking about)
Punctuation is your friend, and makes your thoughts more readable.
I wonder how many US advanced weapons Trump has promised his Arab benefactors for this one, as well as how much baksheesh the Trump family will receive. A 1973 laws guarantees the US will maintain Israeli military superiority. That seems to be out the window, judging by the gifts to the UAE and the Saudis.
In so much as it’s long overdue for their to be direct commercial and other civil ties between these countries too, calling this a peace deal is ridiculous and just as ridiculous as calling the Israel-Emirates developments a peace deal.
Bahrain and Israel have never really been in a war against each other. And Bahrain, as a de facto protectorate of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, was going to follow what its ruler’s patron protectors in the area wanted it to do.
As the UAE’s MBZ wants, Saudi’s MBS mostly does. And when those two anti-democratic regimes say “Jump!”, Bahrain’s minority rulers respond with “How high?”.
It just amazes me how horrible most people on Twitter are. This should be very good news that all Americans can celebrate. But the Twitter responses are so awful. These people are crazy and I’m glad I don’t use Twitter much.
HT?
https://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=119062.msg2321990#msg2321990
Reports are out that President Trump will announce direct flights from Israel to Morocco.
Never Kuwait. Still stuck in the past.