In 2020 the Trump administration gave Israel another prize. Jared Kushner brokered the Abraham Accords between Israel on one side and the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Sudan and Bahrain. The US gave all four countries sweeteners in return for their co-operation.
They were persuaded to abandon the long-standing Arab peace initiative, that promised Israel full recognition in return for allowing Palestinians to establish their own state in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. For Israel it amounted to a free gift.
Biden, like Trump in his first term, wanted to extend the Abraham Accords to Saudi Arabia. Recognition of Israel by the Saudis, the keeper of Islam’s two holiest shrines, the leader of the Sunni Muslim world and the richest and most powerful Arab state, would be hugely significant.
In return, the Saudis would get a comprehensive security pact with the US, which would of course include more arms deals.
It was about more than lucrative business opportunities for all concerned, though they existed and were attractive.
