I'm glad David has now written on this issue.

As I commented 2 days ago in another of David's threads http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=21105#372576

"Meanwhile the big Israel (specifically Prime Minister Netanyahu) helping Trump Campaign matter, right now, is the so-called "Abraham Accords".

The "Times of Israel" reports 15th September 2020 at http://www.timesofisrael.com/hosting-netanyahu-trump-says-5-6-more-countries-ready-to-make-peace-with-israel/#gs.fq7vxz

"President Donald Trump on [15 September] said five or six more countries are ready to make peace with Israel.

Hosting Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, shortly before the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, Trump said, “We’re very far down the road with about five additional countries…

Presenting Netanyahu with a White House key, “the key to our country and the key to our hearts,” Trump hailed “all the great things you’ve done for the Jewish state and for Israel.” Netanyahu said Trump has “the key to the hearts of the people of Israel.”"

PETE COMMENT

All this "peace in our time" showmanship lacks the essential enthusiasm and cooperation of Palestinians, who see it as a sellout by some weak Arab governments of Palestinian rights and autonomy.

The diplomatic concoction between Israel and Trump is aimed at not only boosting Jewish-American votes for Trump on 3rd November, but is aimed at solidifying Prime Minister Netanyahu's political position which has been threatened of late in Israel. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty-fifth_government_of_Israel "

Even if you give everything a Palestinian asks for, they'd still not e happy because by the looks of it, only unhappiness makes them happy !

That's one opinion!

Trump apparently doesn't give a rats how many bodies he has to walk over for a second term? But indicitive of a morally bankrupt individual in good company, David.

I'll have four ponocios, David. Those four will do, with noses a little longer than the Eagle Farm runway! And mind those spuds, some are really hot!
Alan B.

Alan B.

Blistering! Now we have jumbo jets landing on Pinocchios’ nose. We’re legends!

Dan

#plantaganet

Not '"peace in our time" showmanship' or "diplomatic concoction" but the result of three years of hard work by Trump after he made the decision to go to Saudi Arabia on his first overseas visit in May 2017 followed by his visit to Israel and Bethlehem.

Funny that you are apparently unaware of that groundbreaking visit and the speech he made at the time in Saudi Arabia:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-trumps-speech-arab-islamic-american-summit/

Are you aware of the speech Trump made in Bethlehem?
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/full-text-trump-condemns-evil-losers-behind-manchester-attack-1.5475792

Followed up with a historic meeting at the White House on 13 March 2018:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/readout-gaza-conference-white-house/

Consolidated with the holding of the Manama Conference on 26 June 2019:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/unconventional-middle-east-peace-meeting-features-unusual-guest-list/2019/06/26/afa9c2d0-9781-11e9-9a16-dc551ea5a43b_story.html

Culminated with the release of Trump's vision for Peace on 28 January 2020.

During these three years the best the PLO could do was say it would not negotiate with Israel - no matter what Trump's Plan said and before the PLO even knew what was in it. Eight months later the PLO is still refusing to negotiate with Israel on Trump's Plan which now is the only game in town. That is the PLO's perfect entitlement to choose but it is paying a high political cost that is only going to escalate the longer it swims against the Trump tide.

No wonder UAE and Bahrain have decided it is time to join Egypt and Jordan and sign peace treaties with Israel. Both are sick and tired of the PLO saying no to every proposal that has been made since the PLO's birth in 1964 - especially Trump's proposal offering them Gaza and up to 70% of the West Bank without one Jew living there. Go figure.

The PLO is well and truly committing political suicide and digging its own grave - even with its former Arab supporters.

Ok admittedly it is useful that some oil rich Arab countries are likely to reduce the amount of anti-Israel military funding for Palestinian "terrorists".

In return the US Government should reduce the $2+? Billion per year for Israel's conventional defence forces.

Also the uncountable $millions per year Jewish-Americans donate for Israel's nuclear weapons arsenal should be reduced.

Predictably, some in Bahrain are unhappy with the Abraham Accords

CALEB WEISS, at the Long War Journal reports, September 16, 2020 http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/09/analysis-iranian-backed-group-in-bahrain-creates-sub-unit-to-target-israeli-interests.php

"Analysis: Iranian-backed group in Bahrain creates sub-unit to target Israeli interests:

Following the recent peace deal signed between Israel and the island Kingdom of Bahrain, Saraya Wa’ad Allah, an Iranian-backed group on the island, has announced its opposition to the deal vowing to target Israeli interests with a new specialized unit.

In a statement released earlier today, Saraya Wa’ad Allah [God’s Promise Companies] became the first Bahraini militant group to officially comment on the recent peace deal.

In the message, the group states that “this false normalization with the Zionist enemy is nothing but an update to the enabling of this cancerous gland on the body of the Ummah [worldwide Islamic community] and the rotten fruit of years of betrayal by Zionist governments.”

Saraya Wa’ad Allah, as well as other Bahraini militia groups, have long considered Bahrain and other Gulf monarchies to be clients of Israel and have called them ‘Zionist’ as a response."

If it triggered a spiteful response on the part of the PLO? It was the carefully thought out and designed intention? Genius.
Alan B.

JUmbo jets, Dan. You don't think that would be stretching/bending/flattening a point or two? And I nose you nose what I mean?

Legends? Like in our own lunch boxes, maybe?

You heard about the two men that walked into a bar? You'd have thought, one of them would have seen it?

You have a rib tickling day. And mind the splinters, Collija. Ouch, ouch.
Alan B.

Oh I thought world war 3 was starting when Trump moved American Embassy to Jerusalem. Could those with tds have any more egg on their faces? Well I suppose CNN could dream up hoax number 999 to take away from Trump's numerous achievements. No wonder they hate him so much as he has achieved numerous things Obama could not.

Hi David

The Abraham Accords are unremarkable and just reflect the quiet intelligence liaison relationship Israel has had with these Arab states for years. Publicity about these pre-existing relationships has just been trotted out by Netanyahu at this time to help Trump in Trump's Election.

To backup this contention here are the words of Avner Barnea, Ph.D. (Brig. General (retd)) former Deputy Head Israeli Security Agency (ISA) aka Shin Bet aka Shabak http://www.shabak.gov.il/english/Pages/index.html#=1

Avner says PUBLICALLY here http://intelnews.org/2020/09/15/01-2870/#comments

"Unfortunately, the picture presented by Marc Polymeropoulos is partial and no cover the situation. It looks to me as being biased.

Israel has a representation the Emirates for more than 20 years.

We had also a diplomatic delegation in Qatar until 2009, which was closed as a result of Israel’s military operation in Gaza strip.

All this is a result of initiatives of the time of Rabin and Peres as Prime Ministers in Israel ( yes – we had a history before Netanyahu became a PM!).

For many years, Israel supports the security of many Gulf States, not just the Emirates is well known to every country in the Middle East.

Israel’s defense export to the Emirates was in 2019 more than 1 billion $.

So I do not see what will be changed in this matter regarding our secret relationship?

It is also known and has been published that Israel has secret relations with other Arab/ Muslim states – like Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

The Mossad is active in these moves for years, but until recently it was kept a secret until the head of the Mossad started to behave like a politician and not as a head of a clandestine organization, backed by Netanyahu, who seems to see him as his successor."

David, I trust you cannot refute this picture, now that it has been presented on this realpolitik level?

#plantaganet

Trying to downplay what is actually happening before our very eyes is pathetic and downright misleading.

What was secret, understood, going on under the counter, hush hush - is now out in the open for all the world to see. The ring of steel surrounding the Arab League since its founding in 1946 - loosened by Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 has been prised wide open by the UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in August-September 2020.

Now Qatar has just today endorsed Trump's deal of the century - the first Arab state to explicitly do so.

The source you rely on - Brigadier (Ret.) Avner Barnea PhD - got it badly wrong - and so have you in quoting him. Never mind - you and he can revise your thinking and be witness to the most amazing moves currently being made in the Middle East.

President Trump has made this happen in just 3 years after 20 years of failed diplomacy by Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama.

More seems sure to follow before November 3...

A. Long may these Arab states cease sending money to terrorist causes

AND

B. Long may the US not send so much money to Israel for Israel's over-armed, over-active military.

Even if Biden wins it is hoped that money from outside sources (A. and B.) to perpetuate Arab vs Israel fighting, will Slow Down.

#plantaganet

You have already made this ridiculous assertion of supposed even-handedness.

Whilst Israel's nearest neighbours are Hamas and the PLO who still want to wipe Israel off the map - and Iran and its proxy Hezbollah that want to do likewise - your advice to America will not be followed.

Stop trying to change the discourse by raising new issues instead of replying to my comments rebutting those expressed by you.

Do you agree with this post by me in response to you:
"Not '"peace in our time" showmanship' or "diplomatic concoction" but the result of three years of hard work by Trump after he made the decision to go to Saudi Arabia on his first overseas visit in May 2017 followed by his visit to Israel and Bethlehem."

Do you agree with my post to you that Barnea has got it badly wrong?

Why no response to these issues first raised by you and answered by me? Can I assume by your silence that you agree with my responses?

Wishing Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, and his Davo, a Happy Yom Kippur

observed this year "Sunset, 27 September 2020 – nightfall, 28 September 2020"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur