Behind the Headlines

The UAE-Israel-USA “Peace” Deal: Winners and Losers

Published: Fall 2020    |    By: Jon Allen  |    Volume 68, No.9
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Summary
For the UAE, this historic agreement offers access to Israeli technology, an ally in its fight against Iran, and the possibility of adding F-35s to its arsenal. Bahrain’s participation confirms that while the Saudis won’t sign on anytime soon, King Salman has given his consent to the deal. Israel gains legitimacy throughout the Gulf and among other Arab states while giving up very little. Bibi’s plans for annexing parts of the West Bank were going nowhere anyway. The Trump Administration gets credit for a diplomatic coup, diverts attention from its stillborn “Deal of the Century” and shores up its Evangelical base. The big losers are, of course, the Palestinians. Agreement with Israel on a two-state solution is no longer a pre-condition for Arab states to engage with Israel, the “Arab street” remained largely silent and a Palestinian state remains a distant dream.
About the Author
Jon Allen (LL.B., University of Western Ontario, 1976; LL.M., International Law, University of London School of Economics, 1977) joined the Department of External Affairs in 1981. In addition to postings abroad in Mexico City (1983-85), New Delhi (1989-92) and Washington (1997-2001), Mr. Allen spent his early career in the Legal Bureau.

Subsequently, he held the positions of Director General, North America Bureau (2001-2004), Minister (Political Affairs) at the Embassy of Canada in Washington (2004-2006) and Assistant Deputy Minister, Americas (2010-2012).

From 2006 to 2010, he was Ambassador of Canada to Israel. From 2012 to 2016 he was Ambassador to Spain and Andorra. From December 2012 to July 2014, he was Chargé d’affaires a.i. to the Holy See.

Mr. Allen is currently a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Canadian International Council and a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto. At Munk, he is engaged in research and writing on tax havens and inequality issues, Spanish and Israeli-Palestinian issues and Populism.