EDITORIAL: Historic Leaders Summit Marks Beginning of New Arab-Israeli Axis

Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, hosted the first summit with leaders of Israel and United Arab Emirates on March 21. (Wikimedia)

n light of Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi invited leaders of Israel and the United Arab Emirates to Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt to discuss the energy market’s stability. 

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hosted March 21 and March 22 the summit with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and UAE de facto leader Sheikh Mohmmad bin Zayed al-Nahyan in their first three-way summit since Israel normalized relations with the UAE in 2020. As one of the most recent signs of the realignment of Arab alliances, the new summit marks the beginning of an Arab-Israeli axis.

Until recently, Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory has prevented Arab countries from engaging diplomatically. According to The New York Times, Egyptian leaders sought to keep their relationship with Israel as inconspicuous as possible. The recent shift in Arab alliances makes it clear that a resolution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be put on the back burner as Abu Dhabi and Cairo choose to deepen their economic ties with Israel. 

The three countries have also signaled a commitment to energy security at an especially critical time. The UAE in particular has faced pressure from the United States to supply more oil, as crude oil prices rise following Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. 

Finally, the leaders discussed their commitment to deterring Iran, while the United States pursues re-negotiation of a nuclear deal that would lift international sanctions. Fearing a nuclear Iran and U.S. withdrawal from Middle Eastern affairs, all three countries seek to act as a united counterbalance to the region’s shifting winds.