War on Gaza hampers Gulf countries and "Israel" normalization: WashPo
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While it is unlikely that the war in Gaza will lead to the severing of diplomatic relations, it has disrupted the calculations of emerging Gulf powers that view "Israel" as a potential security partner.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, arrives to meet with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 (AP)
The Washington Post stated that the war in Gaza represents a test for the newly enhanced relations between the Gulf Arab states and "Israel".
According to the newspaper, while it is unlikely that the conflict will lead to the severing of diplomatic relations, it has disrupted the calculations of emerging Gulf powers that view "Israel" as a potential security partner. Leaders now find themselves dealing with popular anger over the war.
The newspaper noted that the United States has advocated for Arab normalization with "Israel", hoping Saudi Arabia would be next. However, these plans are now on hold amid the Israeli genocide in Gaza.
Speaking on November 18 in a Manama dialogue, former Saudi Ambassador to Washington, Turki bin Faisal, stated that the crisis in Gaza revealed that regional peace efforts are an "illusion."
Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud:
— PalMedia (@PalBint) March 16, 2023
“Despite all the aggression by Israel, not a single sanction followed, but sanctions sprang up when Russia took just one step over the line.”
If the rules based international order worked, Israel would have faced sanctions by now.
With growing public anger, Israeli companies in the Gulf have taken a lower profile, pulling advertisements and reducing the size of official delegations.
Saudi-Israeli normalization deal impossible at the moment
Reuters reported on October 13, just days after the start of the Tidal Wave battle, that "Saudi Arabia has frozen plans, supported by the United States, to normalize relations with Israel."
According to two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking, Saudi Arabia is postponing US-backed plans to normalize relations with "Israel", signaling a swift reconsideration of its foreign policy goals as the conflict between "Israel" and the Palestinian group Hamas intensifies.
Thomas Friedman also commented at that time, stating that the Tidal Wave operation "will make the proposed Saudi-Israeli normalization deal impossible at the moment."
The two sources told Reuters that the US-sponsored negotiations on normalizing relations with "Israel", which were a crucial step for the kingdom to gain what Riyadh views as the true prize of a US defense treaty in exchange, would be delayed.
Read more: 'Every day we get closer': MBS says on Saudi-Israeli normalization
Boycott hits fast food giants
The popular boycott movement against Western brands, including Starbucks and McDonald's, has gained support in the Gulf and across the Arab world.
In a sweeping wave of protest, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey witnessed a significant surge in a boycott targeting multinationals that have either pro-Israeli stances or financial ties with "Israel", such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, and KFC, prompting a widespread consumer movement against them.
The recent escalation of the genocide has further fueled the momentum of the boycott. As global pressure mounts on "Israel" for its brutal attacks on Gaza, the movement is gaining traction in other nations, including Kuwait and Morocco.
