The UAE, Bahrain and Sudan are not sporadically fighting with eachother or Israel

It is just a formality w.r.t peace

The big deal is economic and diplomatic

If I recall, there is a ton of rocket attacks launching from Israel to Palestine and vise-versa very frequently.

And Gaza has nothing to do with this deal

In fact this deal is in spite of Gaza

Another way of looking at it: I don't believe there were commercial flights going on between the UAE and Israel prior to this deal being signed.

It wasn't exactly a friendly environment, and noted about Gaza.

Many see this as a blow to any future deal with Gaza by taking away part of their leverage (specifically the idea that if israel makes peace with PA/Hamas, they stand to get the chance to make a deal with other arab countries); others view it as a help for a future deal for the same reason (it takes away leverage)

Well finally we are getting to the real point lol. I don't disagree that there is something great here, I am just taking way the BS that was stuck on top of that.

Appreciate it.

Also it actually was a mostly friendly environment behind the scenes, due to ISIS, Iran, and extremism, israel and several neighbors have been cooperating for years. That is why some thank Obama for this deal (for emboldening Iran).

I haven't had the time yet to delve in depth about the agreement, but I had presumed it included Gaza to start with, so I'm glad you corrected me on that.

But still it is a very hopeful moment and whoever brokered the actual deal probably deserves a lot of credit

Yeah.

Having commercial flights begin between countries is a great start for alleviating a "cold war" scenario, and strengthening bonds between the countries at the very least. Their economies could intermingle and it would be good for all countries involved to remove the stigma with each other.

Yes but I actually think you have it backwards

The stigma is induced, socially and politically, by the media in these (Bahrain, Sudan and UAE) countries, and the politicians that utilize the stigma to gain/remain in power (promises of punishing israel or - in the past, going to war with israel - were used to gain favor). Recently they changed their tune a little. I think in order for such a deal to happen a. the stigma had to have already gone down and b. You can be assured (have hope) that the media is going to change its tune going forward.

And this is even more hope than the deals themselves. The people will now be open to real communication (direct or via their media) instead of absurdities

I mean, this further helps the stigma, don't know how that's backwards.

It's not the foundation, but it's a layer of bricks in the wall of bonds.

I mean the stigma going down is the thing that allowed the deals, and whatever caused that will continue regardless of the deals; the deals are more of an indicator (but ofc you are right, business deals and flights will undoubtedly help as well)

Of course, again, never insinuated it was the foundation of helping the countries, that has likely been in the process for some time already.

I said it's a start for removing the "cold war" scenario.

You don't have to attack each other for a cold war, you just have to have enough hostility to not work together and remove tourism between your countries, on top of other things.

Mhm.


Also discord fix your outage plx

For real. lol.

The official end of the cold war is when the borders opened and the walls came down, if I recall.

Which is why I use that as a definition.

Some obviously may disagree that we've ever stopped the cold war, but it stopped enough to allow tourism between the countries.

And I was actually born in West Germany as the walls came down.

Just before I turned 1.

Actually, it is today that marks the 31st anniversary of that day.

The Iron Curtain fell 31 years ago to this day and ended the cold war between the West and Russia.

Mmm

@Maw The official narrative, but not exactly correct, the soviet union continued to fight for its survival for a couple of more years, till the resistance was crushed.

and I agree to the tourism definition, though I am not sure that is extremely relevant as to geopolitics.

It's a sign of good faith to allow tourism between countries and opening the borders.

As it's often seen as exposing a vulnerability.

Did you see the white house press briefing?

tldw?

That georgia representative mentioned that the hammer ballot thingy was fake news