Criticism of the two agreements with the UAE and Bahrain within the coalition government of Benjamin Netanyahu reflected the state of apathy on the part of the Israeli society, which suffers from the worsening economic crisis due to the repercussions of the Corona pandemic, and its indifference to the normalization of diplomatic relations between Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi and Manama.

However, the criticisms of the partners in the government coalition of Haredi parties refer to the opposition shown by the extreme right camp and the settler alliance, represented by the "right" bloc headed by Naftali Bennett, who strongly opposes the inclusion of the term Palestinian statehood in any settlement, a term that will remain secret even during the Knesset discussions Of the two agreements, as well as criticism leveled at Netanyahu for postponing the implementation of the annexation plan.

Prior to the heated discussions in the Israeli political camps regarding the status of Jerusalem and the two-state solution, which was absent from the ceremonial ceremonies of normalization in the White House, Knesset Speaker Yerev Levin preempted the parliamentary discussions and the state of criticism and verbal altercations among the Israeli political leaders, which will accompany the voting on the normalization agreements in the Knesset after the end of the Christmas holiday The Hebrew year next week.

Levin addressed a speech in Arabic to the leaders of the UAE and Bahrain regimes from the podium of the Knesset, through which he expressed his thanks and gratitude for the step he described as "courageous", which establishes a new stage for ending the conflict in the Middle East, and opening horizons for cooperation and partnership in various fields between the peoples and countries of the region. His expression.

Congratulations and criticisms

Despite the Israeli congratulations to the printers, criticism was directed from within the government coalition for what he described as the secret clauses and annexes of the two agreements, as Moshe Arbil, a member of the Knesset for the "Shas" movement, gave a formal questioning to Netanyahu, in which he demanded that the secret provisions be disclosed to the government and the Knesset.

In his interrogation, Erbil asked whether Netanyahu had agreed to freeze settlement activity in the West Bank under the two agreements with the UAE and Bahrain, and if he also agreed to establish a Palestinian state under the two-state solution.

"It would have been better for Netanyahu to inform the Knesset members and residents of the State of Israel about whether the government agreed in return for normalization to freeze and reduce construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem settlements, or agreed to the establishment of a Palestinian state in return for normalization," the official Israeli Radio "Kan" quoted Erbil as saying.

The Haredim member added, "I have not received answers yet, but I expect full transparency. There is an ongoing construction freeze in the West Bank, and we must know the price that we are supposed to pay for normalization."

Commenting on these criticisms and the secrecy of the terms of the two agreements and not submitting them to the government and the Knesset for approval before signing them, Israeli Finance Minister Yisrael Katz said that "the peace agreement with Egypt was ratified by the Knesset after signing the agreement," explaining that the entry into force of the two agreements with the UAE and Bahrain is conditional upon the approval of the government and the Knesset. On them.

Katz stressed that he is convinced that "the ratification will be sweeping and unanimous, and there is an achievement here, and it is only for the State of Israel."

Haredim oppose including the term "establishing a Palestinian state" in any settlement (Israeli press)

Mislead and deceive

Away from the controversy over the secret clauses in the two agreements and their subsequent ratification by the Knesset and the government, the director of the "Zolat" Institute for Equality and Human Rights, Einat Ovadia, described normalization with the UAE and Bahrain as "false and misleading peace."

She explained that "False Peace" culminates in a widespread marketing fraud, in which the parties - especially Netanyahu - make sure that the word "peace" is used deceptively, although in reality it is a formalization of the 3-decade-old relations between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel. It does not share borders and is not in conflict.

Ovadia believes that Netanyahu is trying to mislead and deceive the Israeli public opinion regarding the normalization of relations, which he described as a "historic agreement", as if he accomplished this without paying a price, but according to what he repeated in his speeches, "peace for peace," she said.

Netanyahu is facing criticism in the Knesset for concealing secret clauses in the two normalization agreements (Israeli Press)

Dodge and turn away

Regardless of criticism and calls to reveal the secret clauses and annexes of the two agreements, Ovadia asserts that Netanyahu - in light of the Corona crisis and its economic and social repercussions - excludes the Israeli public's opposition to the normalization step that may contribute to strengthening Israel's economy and domestic tourism, and expanding public foreign diplomatic relations.

Ovadia says, "In addition to the price that the Palestinian people will pay as a result of normalization, we in Israel also pay the price of this fraud, not only because it helps Netanyahu fortify his position and evade prosecution, but the contribution to normalizing relations with the UAE and Bahrain does not outweigh the damage we have suffered by moving away." For a viable and sustainable political solution that ends the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the cycle of bloodshed in which we are stuck. "

An Israeli analyst: The peace that Netanyahu and Trump laid rules excludes the Palestinians (Israeli Press)

Normalization and concessions

For his part, political analyst Arieh Shebet wrote an article in the newspaper "Yediot Aharonot" entitled "The New Peace", in which he reviewed the criticisms and reservations in the Israeli political scene regarding the normalization of relations with the UAE and Bahrain, saying that "the new peace is strange. Netanyahu and Trump laid its foundations, and being a peace that excludes and goes beyond the Palestinians. "

And the Israeli journalist added, "Not only that, the right-wing camp and the settler coalition cannot understand the concept and essence of this normalization, and it seeks to believe and delude itself with what Netanyahu is saying: peace in exchange for peace, normalization without making concessions, and peace that preserves the entire land of Israel without division."

On the other hand, Shebet explains that the broad Israeli public is showing difficulty in celebrating and showing its enthusiasm for the diplomatic move, which may have long-term repercussions and projections, in light of the difficult phase that is afflicting Israel due to Corona.

Scene from the decrees of signing the normalization agreements at the (European) White House

Struggle and Survival

But he believes that this normalization, and despite the voices in the Israeli political scene with reservations about it, "establishes a new Middle East governed by common interests and deals, so that peace is greater than Netanyahu and Trump, as for Israel it is an existential need and necessity, so there is no survival or continuity for Israel in the region without peace." .

Contrary to what was prevalent that peace with the Arab world begins in Ramallah, "peace with the Palestinians begins in Abu Dhabi and the coalition of moderate Sunni states, whose role will come after the absence of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from the political scene," according to Shebet.

The journalist estimates that this alliance "will succeed in making what the Israeli left has been unable to achieve in achieving peace and ending the conflict to ensure the survival of Israel."