The Abraham Accords brought a hopeful vision for the Middle East's future. This series of normalization agreements, established in 2020, initiated formal diplomatic ties between Israel and several Arab nations, aiming to foster peace and economic cooperation in ways many thought unimaginable in our lifetime. When discussions about potential normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel began, it seemed as though the region was on the brink of a new era – one that could unite against shared threats (especially from Iran), align with US interests, open doors for economic opportunity, and pave the way for peace between the Jewish and Arab worlds. Unfortunately, that vision now seems far from reality.
Recently, Saudi Arabia hosted The Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit in Riyadh, where Arab leaders gathered to address the ongoing conflicts involving Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon.
The Summit's statements were deeply problematic, to say the least. It presented a one-sided narrative, ignoring Israel's pressing security concerns and making no mention of Hamas or Hezbollah – two Iranian proxies that have been targeting Israeli civilians for over a year. Instead, the Kingdom chose to ignore Iran's provocations entirely, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman calling on Israel to "respect the sovereignty of the sisterly Islamic Republic of Iran and not to violate its lands," effectively warning Israel against retaliating.
The Summit also called for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the "lines of June 4, 1967, with east Al-Quds as its capital." This would mean Jews would once again be barred from the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, home to the Western Wall and other sites of profound historical and religious importance to the Jewish people.
Further, the Summit accused Israel of "genocide," repeating the same propaganda used by Hamas when bin Salman claimed that they condemn and reject "the genocide committed by Israel against the brotherly Palestinian people, which has claimed the lives of 150,000 martyrs, wounded, and missing, most of whom are women and children."
Such statements are, in essence, demanding that Israel reward terrorism by granting Palestinians statehood even after Hamas brutally murdered 1,200 Israeli civilians. They ignore Iran's relentless support for terror against civilians since Oct. 7, 2023. The Summit failed to call on Hezbollah to cease its rocket fire on Israel since the conflict began on Oct. 8, 2023, nor did it urge Hamas to agree to a hostage deal or hold the Palestinian Authority accountable for inciting terror. It called for reparations for Palestinian refugees but failed to mention the nearly 900,000 Jewish refugees expelled from Arab and Islamic lands following Israel's establishment in 1948, who were forced to leave their homes, possessions, and livelihoods. Fair discussion of reparations should include these Jewish communities from the Middle East and North Africa.
While the Summit urged adherence to UN Resolution 1701, it conveniently ignored that Hezbollah has violated this resolution by stationing weapons and digging tunnels near UNIFIL positions. It also condemned Israel for targeting UN peacekeepers, failing to mention that Hezbollah has long exploited the proximity of UNIFIL sites. Though the Summit addressed Gaza's humanitarian crisis, it overlooked Hamas's well-documented diversion of aid, along with their partners at UNRWA, reselling it for profit, reportedly amounting to half a billion dollars.
The issues are many. Before this war, Saudi-Israel normalization seemed within reach. Today, it appears Saudi Arabia has chosen to align with the "axis of evil" by renewing ties with Iran in a China-brokered deal in March 2023.
Nothing about the Summit reflected a balanced view, nor did bin Salman's words chart a realistic path toward peace in the region. Any viable resolution must be balanced, realistic, and address the rights of all parties involved.
Israel remains committed to peace and open dialogue with its regional partners. But it does not need lectures on human rights from oil-rich Arab states, especially when such countries only permitted women to drive as of 2018 and still impose male-guardian restrictions on marriage and travel.
