Against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic, with a recession looming, and riots disrupting the peace in the United States, good news doesn't often make headlines. But that is exactly what the Middle East, an area that is no stranger to bad news, is experiencing.
A United Arab Emirates cargo plane made its historic first landing in Israel last week. Persian Gulf sheikdoms are granting increased freedoms to their Jewish communities, and no one keeps these warming ties a secret anymore.
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Israel is also bolstering its ties with Muslim countries to its west, as expressed by telephone calls last week between Prime Minister Netanyahu and the leaders of Chad and Sudan – the latter until recently an enemy of Israel. Despite what the media may tell you, Israel is further strengthening its relations with Saudi Arabia and Jordan, mostly at the expense of the problematic actors in the region: Turkey and the Palestinians.
Those who follow the geopolitical dynamics of the region are not surprised by these recent developments.
Since Donald Trump entered the White House in 2016, and especially since his speech in Saudi Arabia about the responsibility the region's countries have in fighting terrorism and extremism, ties between Israel and the moderate Arab nations have been growing stronger.
Under the auspices of the world's leading superpower, these warming relations are starting to see the light of day, and this trend has continued even after the US's "deal of the century" was introduced in January.
The old peace industry turned up its nose at US President Donald Trump's peace plan. However on the ground, certainly on a regional level, stability is maintained, ties are growing stronger, and one has every reason to be optimistic.
From time to time, the leaders in the region pay lip service to the "old ways" and release angry statements about the peace plan. However, as developments on the ground show, they are just letting off steam.
Those familiar with the internal discourse among Arab leaders regarding the Palestinian cause, know that Arab leaders have long tired of the Palestinians' rejectionism and profligacy. These same leaders seek to ensure the future of their countries, their government, and their people, and they expect the Palestinian leadership to do the same.
This is why the leaders of the moderate Arab nations welcomed Trump's peace plan when it was introduced and remain steadfast in their support of it to this day.
The same is true for the Israeli public. Although some Israeli leaders think opposing the "deal of the century" will result in a political gain, the vast majority of Israelis, including on the Right, support it.
The silent majority, both in Israel and among its neighbors, understands that "the vision of peace and prosperity" presented by the United States is the only realistic path toward improving the situation west of the Jordan River. Full-fledged peace may still be a long way away but there is no better way to reach it.
