The Palestinians have been left on their own

Peace between Israel and the UAE could have benefitted the Palestinians enormously, but they prefer to cling to frustration, anger, and dreams that will never come true.

By Prof. Eyal Zisser, ISRAEL HAYOM

Israel and the United Arab Emirates are now taking another important step toward peace.

This weekend’s announcement that the UAE was cancelling its economic boycott of Israel, the first commercial flight that departed for the UAE from Ben-Gurion International Airport, and the start of practical negotiations for implementing peace all show that the Emirati leaders are determined to make sure the peace deal includes real content, maintain warm ties with Israel, and cooperate with it on economic ventures, rather than just defense.

The Palestinians could have been the first to enjoy the fruit of said cooperation. But they aren’t interested in normalization or warm peace, even if these could bring both Israel and the Palestinians prosperity. It’s no wonder the Palestinians greeted the news of peace between Israel and the UAE with a cry of desperation and rushed to condemn the Emirati “betrayal” of the Palestinian issue.

But it seems as if what’s bothering the Palestinians isn’t the declaration of peace, or the fact that most Arab countries to welcome and support it, a few evening signaling that they would soon join the journey toward peace. The Palestinians have been left on their own, and the Arab world, which was supposed to fight their battles for them, is now lining up to make peace with Israel.

Basically, only Iran and Turkey took a stand against the Israel-UAE peace deal, and even they didn’t do so for the sake of the Palestinians, but because they see the deal as hurting their own status in the region, and possibly even a challenge to their attempts to gain influence and control throughout the Arab world.

The deal between Israel and the UAE could have helped the Palestinians promote their own vital interests. It gives the UAE the power to act to implement calm and regional stability, and even mediate between the two sides to help them reach understandings, which would improve the Palestinians’ economic situation and living standard. After all, aid like this is better than the money the Qataris are throwing on the conflict like gasoline on a fire, which merely goes to feed radicalism and terrorism.

But the Palestinians, being Palestinians, prefer to cling to dreams that will never come true and anger, disappointment, and frustration that will lead them nowhere. To make peace, one needs courage. It’s much easier to stay put at a dead end.