Israel and UAE warming of ties: My opinion

Today we were surprised by the announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has normalized relations and will be having full diplomatic ties soon with the establishment of embassies in both countries. The Palestinians have responded with disgusts while many Israelis have welcomed this announcement. 

I agree to peaceful treaties anywhere in the world, and so I welcome this announcement as a positive sign. I believe they have had many secret talks before, between these two countries and possibly have cooperated and worked together in many fields before including in the field of regional security. Many benefits could come out of this if the two countries really capitalize on this new relationship. 

The issue of Palestine is a long standing issue that needs to reach a solution. However, boycotting and not having ties with Israel does not do much to actually contribute anything to the Palestinian cause. Israel is still on the upper hand and Palestinians are not any closer to reaching their dream of statehood. Although Palestinians are understandably disappointed with this latest round of development, they should realize that every country is sovereign and has the right to charter their own foreign policy. The Palestinian-Israel issue is at the end of the day, a Palestinian-Israeli issue. It is no longer an Arab-Israeli issue and certainly not a UAE-Israeli issue.

With regards to the UAE-Israeli announcement, it is finally just UAE exercising their right to self determination and independence in choosing who to be friends with. Although the UAE claims that this decision has helped the Palestinians by stalling the ever looming threat of annexation by the Israelis, it is very likely that this deal is not really about that but about UAE benefiting from this relationship with a very strong and prosperous country in the Middle East region. 

The UAE is the third Arab country after Egypt and Jordan that have had full diplomatic relationship with Israel. At the moment, it is believed that there are other Arab countries in the region that are also warming up to Israel, Netanyahu himself has claimed this before. We know that Oman is rather friendly to Israel, especially after Netanyahu himself has visited the country before. 

Netanyahu with Sultan Qaboos in Oman

Does this mean I do not support the Palestinians? Let me be clear, I support the Palestinian claim to statehood, but I am very much inclined to the idea of one-state solution under Israel. I do not feel that the two state solution is feasible nor sustainable for the Palestinians. A one state solution (under Israel) will be detrimental to the Israelis especially demographically, however it will be of the greatest redress for the Palestinians, who will although having to live under an Israeli government, they will have full citizenship rights and freedom of movement. The Israelis will have the benefit of maintaining most of their statehood including their government and country name and flag, while the Palestinians will, although losing their Palestinian Administration, finally be getting their long awaited "Right of Return". The practicality of this is open to full debate, but I see myself inclined to it.