Five Arab countries—Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia—have put forth a comprehensive plan for resolving the situation surrounding the Gaza Strip, with the United States acting as a mediator. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Israel remains skeptical about the success of the proposed initiative.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly conveyed the Arab proposals to Israel during his tour of the Middle East in early January. While the US plays a mediating role, the Arab governments have been engaging in direct talks with Israel, as disclosed by eight officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
The initiative, as outlined by Bloomberg's sources, encompasses the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel. This reconciliation process had been underway with US mediation before the escalation of the Middle East conflict on October 7, 2023. Additionally, the Arab nations are prepared to offer substantial financial aid for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. However, they seek guarantees from Israel that the rebuilt infrastructure in Palestine will not be subject to destruction.
In a bid to enhance security, the Arab countries propose to train Palestinian security forces. Washington advocates for Palestinian control over the Gaza Strip, while Israel contends that security in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank should be under the authority of the Jewish state post-conflict.
Despite these diplomatic efforts, unnamed officials expressed doubt about progress on the settlement issue, particularly as long as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition remains in power in Israel.
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Based on materials from TASS