by Prof. Eyal Zisser
Between Iran's hegemonic ambitions and the threat posed by Islamic State, the future of the entire region is at stake, and this reality lends the role Israel can play even greater importance
Egyptian President
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, backed by Saudi Arabia, has been working
tirelessly over the past few weeks to promote a diplomatic move that
would pave the road to dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian leaders,
with the aim of ensuring political tensions in the Palestinian
Authority do not escalate, and facilitate continued security
collaboration between Israel and the PA.
This Egyptian-Saudi
move does not have one set goal when it comes to the Palestinian
Authority, seeking instead to put in place the foundation for a
framework of regional cooperation with Israel opposite the challenges
the nations of the Middle East face.
This Egyptian and Saudi
activity reflects the strategic change the Middle East has undergone in
recent years. In the past, regional leaders would point the finger at
Israel as the reason for any internal crisis in their countries, and at
times even pursue escalation on their borders with it, so to distract
local public opinion from the troubles at home. Regional leaders still
look at Israel, but they no longer see it as a scapegoat that can be
used to appease grumbling at home. Now they see it as a potential
partner, an ally which may prove helpful in meeting the considerable
challenges they face.
Egypt is facing a
growing threat of radical Islamic terrorism in the form of Wilayat
Sinai, the Islamic State group's Sinai Peninsula-based proxy. The long
list of terrorist attacks striking at major Egyptian cities is proof
this threat is slowly edging closer to Cairo, all while the Muslim
Brotherhood, backed by Hamas, continues to undermine el-Sissi's efforts
to ensure domestic stability and prosperity.
Furthermore, this
already complex situation is clouded by the cold shoulder the Americans
are showing el-Sissi in his hour of need.
Saudi Arabia, for its
part, is in Iran's crosshairs. Riyadh and Tehran are no longer engaged
in a battle by proxy, and are now on a direct collision course. The two
have severed their diplomatic ties and are now knee-deep in Yemen's
troubles, where the regime is trying to fend off the Houthi rebels. The
Iranians now have a solid foothold in Yemen, Saudi Arabia's backyard,
and they are heavily involved in the wars raging in Iraq and Syria.
Riyadh also has to contend with Islamic State, and the jihadi group is sparing no effort to destabilize the kingdom's regime.
Between Iran's
hegemonic ambitions and the threat posed by Islamic State, the future of
the entire region is at stake, and this reality lends the role Israel
can play even greater importance. This is why Egypt and Saudi Arabia's
efforts no longer seek simply to defuse escalations that could breed
war, nor are they geared solely toward promoting the Palestinian issue.
This time, real and comprehensive regional cooperation is the ultimate
goal, one that could bolster stability and security in the Middle East.
Jordan and Turkey have
come to realize the same: Jordan now relies on Israel for its supply of
drinking water and natural gas, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan -- facing the growing threat of Islamic State and potential
Iranian-Russian moves in Syria that would undermine his own efforts in
the war-torn country -- is actively pursuing warmer ties with Israel.
Neither Egypt nor the
Saudis have a magic solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or for
the Hamas-Fatah strife. Still, as this issue represents the lowest
common denominator around which Arab public opinion can unite, marking
any achievement in this arena is important.
For Egypt, Saudi
Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey, however, the long-term goal seeks to stretch
farther than ever before, and it may even exceed Israel's own
expectations, despite the fact that the Palestinian issue will continue
to prevent the secret ties pursued over shared interests from becoming a
full-fledged alliance.
Prof. Eyal Zisser
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=16251
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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