Trump Wants Arab States to Recognize Israel. The War Has Made That Harder.
The president has linked normalization of ties to an Iran deal, but conditions aren’t ripe for that to happen
By Stephen Kalin / May 31, 2026
As President Trump worked in recent days toward a deal to end his war with Iran, he threw a curveball: Arab states as well as Pakistan and Turkey should consider it mandatory to welcome the agreement by establishing diplomatic relations with Israel under the president’s Abraham Accords.
For much of the Gulf, the proposal only added insult to injury. U.S. relations with the region have been shaken by the war, which created major costs and inflamed U.S. allies’ security concerns. Analysts said Arab leaders are increasingly distrustful of both the U.S. 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.
Arab populations, meanwhile, are even less disposed than they were a few years ago to accept deeper ties with Israel after its campaign in Gaza. Many consider it a rogue state destabilizing the region at least as much as Iran.
중략........