(Globes) Dr. Norman Bailey - So far, four Arab countries have signed agreements with Israel in the past year, collectively named the Abraham Accords. What is the likelihood that the accords will be expanded to include other Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa? Arab states that will under no circumstances enter into an accord with Israel include Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, all of which are satellites of or under the overriding influence of Iran. Unlikely countries include Kuwait, Qatar and Algeria. Possible countries include Libya and Saudi Arabia. The crown prince, who is dedicated to turning Saudi Arabia into a world-class hi-tech center, didn't establish his new tech city in the northwest corner of Saudi Arabia, a stone's throw from Israel, for nothing. Finally, those almost certain to join include Oman and Tunisia. Oman was on the verge of acceding to the accords when the sultan passed away. The implications of the Abraham Accords for the region and the entire Muslim world are that it can be done, the sky didn't fall, and the members are reaping important benefits. Once the Saudis, the very center of the religion of Islam, sign on, this will have an enormous effect on the rest of the Muslim world. The writer, professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute, was chief economist at the U.S. National Security Council and on the senior staff of the Office of the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.
2021-12-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive