GCC-Israel Rapprochement Under Abraham Accords: Implications for Israel-Palestine Conflict

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have faced significant challenges in the past few years, ranging from regional conflicts to disputes with neighboring countries. However, there has been a noticeable shift in the recent times, with a focus on achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, marked a significant milestone in this shift toward reconciliation. In this context, this chapter examines the GCC-Israel rapprochement under Abraham Accords signed by the UAE and Bahrain with Israel in 2020. The chapter also dwells upon the implications of GCC-Israel rapprochement upon the Israel-Palestine conflict. The chapter argues that the GCC states pursue a bilateral approach rather than a multilateral unified approach toward Israel. The engagement of GCC countries with Israel is restricted to bilateral cooperation and Israel-Palestine conflict does not affect this rapprochement. The Abraham Accords reflect a shift in the GCC states’ priorities and calculations toward Israel according to their national interests rather than showing solidarity with Palestine.