5 minutes
Between ideology and interest
Jamal Al Shehhi
jamal.alshehhi@gmail.com
August 19, 2020
In general, states draw up their foreign policies according to their national interests and the strength, stability and security that conducive to them. The relationship of politics to major national interests does not negate the recognition by states of the importance of international laws that regulate the relationship between states and world peace. This aspect implies a practical and moral commitment to the principles of coexistence between peoples.
On the other hand, there are some countries that we call “ideological states” (derived from the word idea in the ancient Latin language), and ideology is the state that builds its policies out of a system of missionary ideas, and tries through many methods to spread it!
There is a clear and direct danger from the ideological state to societies, and to themselves, this danger is represented in introducing concepts and tools from the past and using them in the present, to conceal expansionist tendencies and colonial ambitions, which depletes the capabilities of the society that wants to live the future, for example the Iranian state and its adoption of ideological thought In its political rhetoric, which exposes the region to danger and the futility of endless wars, and the most important problem of ideological thought is its failure to deal with reality, the countries located in this path are unrealistic countries, as in the Yemeni case, as Iranian support for armed militias continues, and reality says it is impossible that Yemen is ruled by armed militias, but Iranian ideology continues to fuel the war.
There are many pseudo-ideological terminology, starting with Hakimiya, God’s will, the idea of the caliphate that the Iranian regime shares in, and “Brotherhood” ideology, which abolishes the idea of the central state and state sovereignty.
This introduction indicates that the policy of the United Arab Emirates is not based on any kind of ideology, but rather on the higher interests of the state, without prejudice to the fateful Arab relations.
Therefore, the agreement between the UAE and Israel cannot be viewed from an ideological angle, and from the concept of normalization.
“The term normalization is an ideological concept,” and it does not explain the UAE’s relationship with Israel.
Relations between states, as we said, move according to the rules of interest and mutual benefit.
As for the concept of normalization as a term, it emerged after the peace agreement between the Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, and normalization appeared as a popular and not a political situation, expressing the refusal of segments of the Egyptian society to deal with the State of Israel from many perspectives, but the agreement was signed and is still in effect to this day.
And normalization is not suitable for interpreting the state’s strategy to protect its interests. Therefore, the Egyptian and Jordanian discourse in standing with the Palestinian right is still the same, and it has not changed, despite diplomatic relations. On the other hand, the Palestinian Authority still maintains the best relations with Egypt and Jordan, which have two Israeli embassies on their territories.
The United Arab Emirates is an Arab country that sets its sights on achieving the highest levels of progress in all areas of life, and in light of this strategic goal, it is embarking on its successful development experience. The agreement between the UAE and the State of Israel cannot be interpreted ideologically. Rather, it is based on the parties ’understanding of their strategic interests.
And the agreement did not forget the Palestinian right to (stop annexation), and as the UAE has always stood with the Palestinian people and will defend it, and if the Palestinian brothers hoped for the positive outcome of what was done in the agreement, they would initiate the strengthening of Emirati-Palestinian relations, by sending delegations and delegates to come out with a common formula and language.
As for the speech of the so-called countries of resistance and their fundamentalist movements, it indicates a realistic impotence and an ideological justification for this deficiency.
The UAE is pursuing its strategy without engaging in pseudo-useless conflicts, not with this or that party, but rather extends a helping hand to all Arab peoples, which seek development and progress, chiefly the Palestinian people.
jamal.alshehhi@gmail.com
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jamal.alshehhi@gmail.com