US President Donald Trump has called on Arab states to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as part of a deal to end the war with Iran, but his proposal has been met with resistance and skepticism in the region.
Arab leaders are increasingly distrustful of both the US and Israel, and fear that normalization would further antagonize Iran, which has shown its capability and willingness to attack Gulf states with thousands of drone and missile strikes.
Analysts say Arab populations are also less disposed than they were a few years ago to accept deeper ties with Israel after its campaign in Gaza, with many considering it a rogue state destabilizing the region.
Trump's insistence that several Gulf states must sign on to the Abraham Accords, a 2020 deal negotiated during his first term that saw the UAE and Bahrain establish formal diplomatic and economic relations with Israel, is expected to complicate negotiations between the US and Iran to end the war.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other countries in the region are unlikely to heed Trump's call, with some already pushing back privately. Riyadh has long said openly that it would only agree to the pact if there were a clear pathway toward a Palestinian state.
