Kurds Are Among Winners Of Israel-UAE Peace Agreement
August 30, 2020, 12:53 am

Kurds Are Among Winners Of Israel-UAE Peace Agreement

Jwan Dibo

Kurds are considered one of the beneficiaries of the recent Israeli-Emirati peace agreement.At first glance, this conclusion might seem bizarre and does not make sense. But after scrutinyand analysis, it can be argued that the Kurds are one of the winners of the recent Israel-UAE peace treaty.

Firstly, the peace accord has happened between two countries that deemed as friends of Kurds and strong supporters of the establishment of an independent Kurdish state.

This supportive stance by both states was very clear during the independence referendum for Kurdistan region of Iraq in September 2017.

Secondly, this new peace pact between UAE and Israel is another sort of regional alignment in the context of the emergence of regional axes.

The axis of moderation represented by UAE, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia versus the axis of extremism, aggression and interference in others’ affairs represented by Turkey, Iran, Qatar and their local agents. Since the main problem of the Kurds is with Turkey and Iran, the countries which oppress Kurds and prevent them from obtaining their rights, so Kurds are classified within the first axis.

Thirdly, the peace truce between Israel and UAE helps to reduce the intensity and level of the populist and racist discourse throughout the region. This, in turn, will positively affect the general public views of Arab, Turkish and Persian peoples towardsthe Kurdish question in the Middle East.

This peace agreement will place the Kurdish issue in the Middle East, as a whole and partly, into the regional leverage game. Thus, the Kurds will gain more presence and influence at the regional and international levels. This will happen because the Israeli-Emirati peace

agreement is on the opposite side of Turkey-Iran axis. These both countries are regarded as enemies of the Kurds and deprive them from gaining their legitimate rights, whether inside or outside their borders. Consequently, any real support will be provided by UAE and Israel

to the Kurds in the future, politically or on the ground, will positively impact the role and future of the Kurds in the entire Middle East. In contrast, this will negatively affect the influence of the Turkish-Iranian bloc.It is true that, in politics, there are no permanent enemies, no permanent friends, there are only permanent interests. However, since the Turkish-Iranian axis poses an existential threat

to Israel and UAE, therefore, their dealing with the Kurds from now onwards will be on a strategic basis, not only from a tactical perspective.

It is not a secret that Israel and UAE in the Middle East are the most supporters of the establishment of an independent Kurdistan. That is not only because of the affection for the Kurds, but because the interests of both states require the formation of an independent Kurdish state. For Israel, the formation of a Kurdish state will change the regional balance of power in its favour.

At the same time, that will be on contrary to the interests of Turkey and Iran. This, also, applies to UAE, especially with regard to its fear of the greed of its terrifying neighbour, that is, Iran. In return, what is required of Kurdish leaders in all parts of Kurdistan, especially in Iraqi Kurdistan and Syrian Kurdistan, is positive interaction with the consequences of this agreement and preparation for what may emerge from it at the regional and Kurdish levels.

by : Jwan Dibo

What will be the impact of the UAE-Israel peace deal? Middle East Governance in the Post Pandemic Era

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”