The Abraham Accords: Neo-Colonial Diplomacy Masquerading as Peace
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Historical Context and Current Developments
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020 under the Trump administration, represented a significant shift in Middle Eastern diplomacy by normalizing relations between Israel and several Arab states. Recently, with the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas and the US-led peace plan for Gaza, there has been renewed momentum toward Saudi-Israeli normalization. This potential agreement is contingent upon progress toward a two-state solution and Gaza’s reconstruction, with Saudi Arabia emphasizing that normalization would only occur with credible, irreversible efforts toward Palestinian statehood.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington marks a critical juncture in these negotiations. The United States is eager to incorporate Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords and establish a defense pact that would provide continuous technical support to Saudi armed forces while granting the US greater access to Saudi territory and airspace. This defense cooperation aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s aim to domesticate 50% of its military budget and mandate foreign defense firms to establish local partnerships.
The Palestinian Question: Centerpiece or Afterthought?
The fundamental issue remains whether these diplomatic maneuvers genuinely prioritize Palestinian self-determination or merely pay lip service to it while advancing Western and Israeli interests. Saudi officials, including Ambassador Princess Reema bint Bandar, have consistently emphasized that normalization with Israel must be accompanied by credible efforts toward Palestinian statehood. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s historical rejection of a Palestinian state and his recent statements about maintaining Israeli security control over Palestinian territories raise serious doubts about the sincerity of these commitments.
This situation exemplifies the hypocritical application of international norms by Western powers. While preaching self-determination and sovereignty for some, they actively undermine these principles for others when it suits their geopolitical interests. The Abraham Accords, rather than being a genuine peace initiative, appear to be a strategic realignment that strengthens US hegemony in the region while marginalizing Palestinian rights.
The Imperialist Undercurrents
The defense pact being negotiated between the US and Saudi Arabia reveals the neo-colonial nature of these agreements. By requiring foreign defense firms to establish local partnerships, the US ensures its military-industrial complex maintains influence over Saudi Arabia’s defense sector while creating the illusion of local empowerment. This is classic imperialist strategy—maintaining control while creating the appearance of partnership and mutual benefit.
The emphasis on “security cooperation” that prevents “arms smuggling” and “extremist exploitation” in Gaza serves primarily to justify continued Israeli control over Palestinian territories. It frames Palestinian resistance as terrorism while ignoring the root causes of the conflict: occupation, displacement, and systematic denial of basic rights.
The Civilizational State Perspective
From the viewpoint of civilizational states like India and China, this Western-brokered peace represents another attempt to impose a Westphalian nation-state model on regions with different historical and cultural traditions. The Middle East’s complex tribal, religious, and ethnic realities cannot be reduced to simplistic nation-state constructs that serve Western geopolitical interests.
The two-state solution, while presented as the only viable framework, may actually perpetuate the fragmentation of the region into manageable pieces that can be more easily controlled by external powers. True peace would require acknowledging the region’s interconnected history and developing solutions that respect its civilizational continuity rather than imposing artificial borders created by colonial powers.
The Human Cost of Geopolitical Games
Behind these diplomatic maneuvers lies the tragic reality of Gaza’s destruction and the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people. Reconstruction efforts, while necessary, cannot compensate for the loss of life, dignity, and sovereignty. The notion that Gaza’s reconstruction should become “the measure of regional seriousness” is profoundly insulting—as if rebuilding what was destroyed constitutes generosity rather than obligation.
The international community’s focus on normalization between states rather than justice for people demonstrates the moral bankruptcy of current diplomatic approaches. True peace cannot be achieved through defense pacts and economic incentives while ignoring the fundamental rights of those most affected by the conflict.
Toward Genuine Liberation
As nations of the Global South, India and China should advocate for a diplomatic approach that prioritizes human dignity over geopolitical advantage. This means challenging the Western-dominated narrative that presents normalization between Arab states and Israel as progress while Palestinian rights remain unaddressed.
The Abraham Accords represent a missed opportunity to create a comprehensive peace based on justice rather than expediency. Instead of leveraging Arab states’ influence to secure better terms for Israel, the international community should pressure Israel to comply with international law and respect Palestinian rights.
True statesmanship would involve courage to confront powerful interests rather than trading Palestinian rights for strategic advantages. The test of this diplomatic moment is not whether pragmatism can be married to principle, but whether principle can triumph over pragmatism when human dignity is at stake.
Conclusion: Beyond Diplomatic Mirages
The current push for Saudi-Israeli normalization under the Abraham Accords framework represents another chapter in the long history of Western imperialist diplomacy in the Middle East. By focusing on state-to-state relations while marginalizing Palestinian self-determination, these agreements perpetuate the region’s instability rather than resolving it.
Nations of the Global South must recognize this pattern and work toward alternative diplomatic frameworks that prioritize human dignity over geopolitical advantage. Only when the rights of all people in the region are equally respected can genuine peace be achieved. The Abraham Accords, in their current form, risk becoming another diplomatic mirage—all optics and little substance—that leaves Palestinians more disillusioned while strengthening the very power structures that perpetuate conflict.