From Foes to Friends: The Normalization of the United Emirates Arab and Israel Relations

  • Ahmad Mudhofarul Baqi Universitas Indonesia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2022.9.1.4995

Abstract

Abstract


 


This article aims to explain the reason the United Arab Emirates (UAE) normalized ties within Israel through Abraham Accord. The normalization of the UAE-Israel ties contra with the position of UAE as a part of the members of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab League that have long been conflicting within Israel, due to Israel's annexation over Palestinians. Utilize explanative type and constructivism paradigm based on identity as a tool of analysis, and supported with the secondary data. This article found the difference in religious identity, not automatic interfere step of UAE and Israel normalization process. The normalization of the UAE and Israel drive by the threat of Iran in the region. The threat shape collective identity between UAE and Israel as friends and Iran as a common enemy. The collective identity was also constructed via systemic processes in the form of interdependency and proximity with the United States of America. The collective identity was also constructed through strategic practice by both leaders. Furthermore, amongst UAE and Israel gathered through a type of identity Abraham's religion.


Keyword: Normalization, UAE, Israel, Identity, Iran, and Constructivism


 


Abstrak


 


Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan alasan Uni Emirat Arab (UAE) menjalin normalisasi hubungan dengan Israel melalui perjanjian Abraham Accord. Normalisasi hubungan UAE dengan Israel kontras dengan posisi UAE sebagai negara teluk (GCC) dan Liga Arab yang telah lama berkonflik dengan Israel atas aksi aneksasi Israel di wilayah Palestina. Menggunakan jenis penelitian eksplanatif dengan paradigma konstruktivisme berbasis identitas sebagai pisau analisis, serta didukung oleh data sekunder. Artikel ini menemukan bahwa perbedaan identitas agama tidak lantas menyurutkan langkah UAE dan Israel melakukan normalisasi hubungan. Israel-UAE normalization didorong oleh konteks ancaman regional berupa agresivitas Iran di kawasan. Konteks ancaman Iran membentuk collective identity antara UAE dan Israel sebagai sahabat dan Iran sebagai musuh bersama. Collective identity juga tercipta melalui proses sistemik berupa interdependensi UAE dan Israel dan kedekatan keduanya dengan Amerika Serikat. Collective identity juga terbentuk lewat praktik strategis kedekatan pemimpin kedua negara. Selain itu, antara UAE dan Israel juga disatukan lewat identitas tipe agama Abraham.


Kata kunci: Normalisasi, UAE, Israel, Identitas, Iran, dan Konstruktivisme 

References

Buku dan Jurnal
Afdillah, M. (2016). Teologi Ibrahim dalam Perspektif Agama Yahudi, Kristen, dan Islam. Kalimah: Jurnal Studi Agama dan Pemikiran Islam, 14(1), 97-114. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21111/klm.v14i1.363
Amir, N. S., & Haji, V. (2020). Expansion of GCC-Israel relations: An explanation from the perspective of realism. World Politics: A Quarterly Journal, 9(3). doi:doi:10.22124/wp.2020.18245.2682
El-Dessouki, A., & Mansour, O. (2020). Small states and strategic hedging: the United Arab Emirates’ policy towards Iran. Review of Economics and Political Science. doi:doi:10.1108/REPS-09-2019-0124
Ismail, M. (2015). Iran’s Nuclear Program: Regional Implications and Possible Outcomes. Asian Politics & Policy, 7(2). doi:doi:10.1111/aspp.12184
Jeongmin, S. (2020). Security of the Gulf regime and normalization of Israel-UAE-Bahrain relations. Korean Islamic Society Journal, 30(3), 101-128. Diambil kembali dari http://www.papersearch.net/thesis/article.asp?key=3832180
Katzman, K. (2017, August). The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy. Congressional Research Service 2017:8. Diambil kembali dari https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/595f590b4.pdf.
Kaye, D. D., & Wehrey, F. M. (2007). A nuclear Iran: the reaction of neighbours. Survival, 49(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00396330701437777
Wendt, A. (1992). Anarchy Is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics. International Organization, 46(2), 391 -425. Diambil kembali dari http://www.jstor.org/stable/2706858.
Wendt, A. (1994). Collective Identity Formation and the International State. The American Political Science Review, 88(2). doi:doi:10.2307/2944711
Wendt, A. (1999). Social Theory of International Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wicaksono, R. (2020). Analisis Kebijakan Uni Emirat Arab dalam Normalisasi Hubungannya. Jurnal Middle East and Islamic Studies (MEIS), 7(2), 132-154. Diambil kembali dari http://meis.ui.ac.id/index.php/meis/article/view/125
Zaga, M. (2018). Israel and the United Arab Emirates: Opportunities on Hold. Diambil kembali dari https://mitvim.org.il/wp-content/uploads/Moran_Zaga_-_Israel-UAE_-_Opportunities_on_Hold_-_December_2018-1.pdf
Zanotti, J. (2018, July 31). Israel: Background and U.S. Relations. Congressional Research Service. Diambil kembali dari https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33476.pdf
Zweiri, M. (2020, Agustus). The UAE-Israel Normalisation ''If you can't convince them, confuse them. Diambil kembali dari https://qspace.qu.edu.qa/handle/10576/15890

Artikel Online
Al Nahyan, A. B. (2018, Januari 30). Iran is Threatening Stability in the Middle East. Financial Times. Diambil kembali dari https://www.ft.com/content/5254f36a-05a2-11e8-9e12-af73e8db3c71
BBC.com . (2015, November 27). Israel to open UAE diplomatic mission. Diambil kembali dari https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31763589.
Foxnews.com. (2016, Maret 02). DP World Says It Works With Israeli Firms. Diambil kembali dari https://www.foxnews.com/story/dp-world-says-it-works-with-israeli-firms
Middleeastmonitor.com. (2019, Juli 01). MEMO Middle East Monitor. Diambil kembali dari Middleeastmonitor.com: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190701-israel-foreign-minister-visits-abu-dhabi/
Nader, H. (2010, November). The Impact of Sanctions on Iran-GCC. Diambil kembali dari https://www.brandeis.edu/crown/publications/middle-east-briefs/pdfs/1-100/meb45.pdf.
Reuters.com. (2019, September 20). Iran's Zarif says Saudi, UAE want to "fight Iran to the last American. Diambil kembali dari https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-aramco-iran-zarif-idUSKBN1W5192
State.Gov. (2020, November). Abraham Accords Peace Agreement: Treaty Of Peace, Diplomatic Relations And Full Normalization Between The United Arab Emirates And The State Of Israel. Washington, USA. Diambil kembali dari https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/UAE_Israel-treaty-signed-FINAL-15-Sept-2020-508.pdf
Strobel, W. P., & Nissenbaum, D. (2019, Agustus 15). U.S. Arranges Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran. Diambil kembali dari https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-arranges-secret-talks-between-israel-u-a-e-over-iran-11565870404
Tehrantimes.com. (2019, Juni 25). Zarif: B-Team thirsts for-war with ran. Diambil kembali dari https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437398/Zarif-B-Team-thirsts-for-war-with-Iran
Thejakartapost.com. (2020, Agustus 14). Palestinian Authority recalls its envoy to UAE: official. Diambil kembali dari https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/08/14/palestinian-authority-recalls-its-envoy-to-uae-official.html
Thetimeofisrael.com. (2018, Oktober 29). In first, Israeli minister makes state visit to Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Diambil kembali dari Timeofisrael.com: https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-israeli-minister-makes-state-visit-to-grand-mosque-in-abu-dhabi/
Ulrichsen, K. C. (2016). Israel and The Arab Gulf States: Drivers and Directions of Change. James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. doi:https://www.bakerinstitute.org/media/files/research_document/13eaaa71/CME-pub-GCCIsrael-090716.pdf
UN. (2018, September 28). General Assembly of the United Nations. Diambil kembali dari http://statements.unmeetings.org/GA73/AE_EN.pdf
UN.org. (2018, September 27). UN Assembly, Israel’s Netanyahu claims Iran harboring secret nuclear site. Diambil kembali dari https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1021192.
worldpopulationreview.com. (2020). worldpopulationreview.com. Diambil kembali dari https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/israel-population.
Published
2022-05-01
How to Cite
BAQI, Ahmad Mudhofarul. From Foes to Friends: The Normalization of the United Emirates Arab and Israel Relations. Insignia: Journal of International Relations, [S.l.], v. 9, n. 1, p. 80-95, may 2022. ISSN 2597-9868. Available at: <http://jos.unsoed.ac.id/index.php/insignia/article/view/4995>. Date accessed: 19 apr. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.20884/1.ins.2022.9.1.4995.
Citation Formats
Issue
Vol 9 No 1 (2022): April 2022
Section
Articles
Authors who publish in this Journal agree to the following terms:

1. The author retains copyright and grants the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons attribution license that allows others to share the work within an acknowledgment of the work’s authorship and initial publication of this journal.
 
2.  Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal’s published version of the work (e.g., acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal).

3.   Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their websites) before and during submission, as it can lead to productive exchanges and earlier and more extraordinary citations of published works.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Obs.: This plugin requires at least one statistics/report plugin to be enabled. If your statistics plugins provide more than one metric then please also select a main metric on the admin's site settings page and/or on the journal manager's settings pages.