Played by political games of Qatar, Turkey, and Iran, the Palestinian leaders have for years looked for meditators to solve differences between themselves instead of solving the conflict with Israel. Before getting to peace with Israel and forming an independent Palestinian state, they have to pursue a peace deal between two rival Palestinian groups, Hamas and Fatah.
The cause of the Palestinian people, the demand to go back to their homes and take back their occupied land, is alive. The cause is also well alive on the Arab Street. But the events of the last few years, from the Hezbollah-Israel clashes to the wars in Iraq and Syria and Iran’s threats against countries in the region, all testify to the necessity of peace in the region.
The brave pact of peace between the United Arab Emirates and Israel is not a betrayal of Palestinian people. Because this isn’t a deal about Palestine at all. It is an agreement between two sovereign nations based on national interests and mutual need for diplomatic relations.
The Islamic Republic might be in a long slumber to have missed the development and prosperity that has taken root in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf area.
Forty-one years since the Iranian revolution, the countries of the region have gotten to their privileged global position with the goal of leaving Islamic extremism behind and fostering economic development and general prosperity.
Urban expansion, modern construction, job creation, and economic development have turned countries such as Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Oman, and even Saudi Arabia to important poles of tourism in the Middle East.
Iran, which was at the forefront of development and modernity in the region, has now gotten to a place to be envious of UAE’s current state. This is what 41 years of the Islamic Republic have brought Iran.
The Islamic Republic still refuses to reverse its mistaken ways. It has preferred getting closer to Turkey and Qatar, two countries in regional isolation and in conflict with the West and the region due to their support for terrorism and Islamic extremist groups.
The UAE’s normalization of ties with Israel is a very ordinary action in diplomatic norms, aimed at securing national interests of both countries.
Qatar has had ties with Israel for years. Israel has had a trade representative in Doha since 1996. But the dual and dangerous policies followed by Qatar in the region stop them from taking open positions.
On one side, Qatar hosts Ismail Haniya, a leader of Hamas. On the other side, it is visited by Yossi Cohen, head of Mossad.
Qatar’s wealth and the rivalry between Iran and Turkey on one side and Saudi Arabia on the other have deceived the small country.
The Islamic Republic is bankrupt and unable to realize basic needs of its 80 million people. Yet it still harbors big dreams for Islamic leadership and expanding revolutionary and Shiite influence.
Economic and political ruin has not stopped the Islamic Republic from pursuing its dreams of destruction. Today it is so destitute that it has to share its jewel in the crown, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, with Qatar.
Turkey follows a similar dual policy. On one side, it has vast relations with Israel. On the other, it doesn’t tolerate UAE-Israeli ties.
The dual policy has only brought economic and political crisis for Turkey.
Turkey, even more bankrupt than the Islamic Republic, wants to find a foothold in Lebanon. Turkey’s foreign minister speaks of Ankara’s willingness to help in Beirut’s reconstruction.
There is no doubt that Qatar and Iran know of the sensitivities around their presence in Lebanon which is why they hide behind Turkey. Qatar’s dollars secure the interests of the Islamic Republic and Turkey and it also paves the way for itself.
With its sick ideology, its constant construction of enemies added to the missile threats by the IRGC and its acolytes, ranging from the Yemeni Houthis to Hashad Shabi militias in Iraq and extremist Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Republic has left the countries of the Persian Gulf region with no choice but to look for new coalitions without Iran.
The Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE) presented by Iran’s President Rouhani, or the nonaggression pact suggested by Zarif, paved the path for the UAE-Israel deal.
The non-aggression pact was, in effect, Iran directly threatening its Arab neighbors. For friendship and peace with the countries of the region there is no need for force, threats, or imposition of forced deals.
It is the Islamic Republic that has brought isolation for Iran due to its extremist ideology and its constant construction of enemies. The countries of the region once regarded Iran as a model for their own development. But four decades of tension means that they pursue their dreams of peace and security in deals without Iran.
Iran’s late ruler, the Shah, had established friendly relations with all countries of the region including Israel and the Palestinians. While keeping friendship with Israel, he was able to also back the interests of Palestinians. If the Iranian revolution hadn’t taken place, no doubt the Shah would have helped form an independent Palestinian state years ago.
Iran could have used its position and power to mediate for peace and stability and easing of tensions in the region. It could have used this to get to a privileged position in the world. But four decades of rule by the Islamic Republic has squandered this golden opportunity for Iran.
