
<p>The new Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, traveled to Dubai – the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – to engage in a historic diplomatic meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. ; Bennett was the first Israeli head-of-state to visit the Arab nation.</p>



<p>Both sides proclaimed the meeting to be a major success – and a milestone in the relationship between the Jewish and Muslim states. ; Ironically, it came at a time when the Israeli-American relationship has cooled. ; The shifting of these relationships was over the same issue &#8212; Iran.</p>



<p>The Biden administration has re-engaged in efforts to have the United States re-enter the old Nuclear Agreement with Iran. ; Israel believes that will directly impact on the security of the Jewish state. ; Conversely, the folks in Dubai tend to side with Israel on the issue of Iran as a disrupter of Middle East peace.</p>



<p>So, what was missing in this breakthrough? ; ;</p>



<p>The United States – specifically President Biden. ; That is because he was not part of the negotiations because we were not in agreement with fundamental issues that brought about the meeting. ; Oh … the White House will claim some sidebar participation, but the United States was not at the table. ;</p>



<p>Not since President Carter’s Camp David Accords that brought peace and cooperation between Israel and Egypt has there been progress in promoting Israeli/Arab harmony until President Trump – through Jared Kushner – embarked on a broad policy initiative. ; It resulted in peace agreements to establish normal relations between Israel and four Arab states – one of which was officially at a state-of-war with the Jewish Republic.</p>



<p>Also, the general policy of bringing about more peaceful relationships between Israel and its Arab neighbors was never in the Democrat playbook since Carter. ; President Obama had shifted America to what he called a more balanced approach to the Middle East. ; His policy was more beneficial to Arab interests – including the Palestinians, Hamas and the PLO. ; The old Iran Nuclear Agreement was a prime example.</p>



<p>If America had any influence on this historic meeting in Dubai, the credit goes back to Trump and Kushner. ; (I know those on the left have a “never say anything good about Trump” policy, but come on, man. ; He and his people did do some very good things.)</p>



<p>Prior to the end of the Trump presidency, Israel was already engaging with four other Arab nations to normalize relationships – including the UAE. ; The meeting between heads-of-states was the culmination of that almost two-year effort that commenced in the final year of the Trump presidency.</p>



<p>The fact that the United States under Biden played virtually no role in this major step forward in establishing peace in the Middle East – and the acceptance of Israel as a legitimate state with a right to exist – is yet another example of America’s decline on the world stage.</p>



<p>It illustrates that once again Biden is on the wrong side of history and events around the world. ; While Biden brags about his extensive history and experience in foreign affairs, his presidency – and his popularity – suggest an unanticipated and inexplicable incompetency.</p>



<p>Regardless, the normalizing of the relationship between Israel and the UAE is good news for the two nations, the Middle East and the world – even if the United States was sitting in the bleachers.</p>



<p>So. There ‘tis.</p>

Historic Middle East meeting … what was missing?
