The President of the United States has undertaken a high-stakes diplomatic mission to the Gulf region, aiming to advance security cooperation, counterterrorism, and normalization efforts between Israel and key Arab states. This visit, accompanied by widely publicized new policy frameworks, has triggered intense and largely skeptical debate throughout the Arab world. The reaction of both Sunni and Shia commentators reflects a pervasive historical conviction: that even determined foreign intervention is unlikely to resolve longstanding internal rifts in the Middle East or produce an enduring peace.
Enduring Sectarian Divides
The roots of regional skepticism lie in the Sunni-Shia schism, which has shaped Islamic and Middle Eastern history for over 1,500 years. Centuries of political and religious rivalry continue to dictate alliances, rivalries, and the internal affairs of Arab societies. Recent decades have seen attempts at reconciliation—most notably after the Arab Spring—and U.S.-led efforts to foster stability, yet repeated cycles of violence and the entrenchment of Iranian-backed proxies have reinforced pessimism regarding externally driven progress.
Diplomatic Initiatives and Regional Reactions
The U.S. President’s agenda includes renewing security guarantees, strengthening counterterrorism partnerships, and advancing the economic modernization of Gulf states. Core to the agenda is the potential expansion of the Abraham Accords and pragmatic alliances with Arab leadership. Despite official statements of support from several governments, the discourse in Arabic media and on regional social platforms has been marked by a sense of weary skepticism. Many commentators assert that such initiatives offer little real hope of dissolving the ages-old divisions that inhibit structural change.
The Israeli Context: Security, Deterrence, and Self-Defense
From the perspective of Israel, U.S. engagement in the Gulf is evaluated through the prism of security imperatives. Israel remains surrounded by Iranian-backed terror organizations—including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, proxies in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen. Israeli officials contend that peace is unattainable without dismantling these threats—a conviction reinforced by the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust. Israel’s ensuing military operations are characterized as acts of lawful self-defense, essential for safeguarding the lives of its citizens and for preserving regional stability.
Geopolitical Calculus in the Gulf States
Gulf monarchies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have recalibrated their foreign policies, progressively engaging with Israel while prioritizing containment of Iranian influence and terror activity. However, these efforts remain vulnerable to both domestic opposition—often intensified by decades of ideological hostility—and the unpredictable maneuverings of Iran and its affiliates. The durability of these new alignments depends on addressing internal divisions as much as regional security threats.
Media and Public Sentiment
Public sentiment across the region is best captured by the heated debates that have surged following the U.S. President’s visit. While some voices acknowledge the necessity of external mediation for any substantive progress, a majority remain convinced that long-term peace requires fundamental shifts in political culture and sectarian attitudes. In particular, citizens and civic commentators point to repeated failures of peace processes in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, where foreign intervention could not overcome local and historical animosities.
A View from Syria
Syria, profoundly affected by prolonged civil war and heavy Iranian and Hezbollah presence, has become emblematic of the region’s complex entanglements. Occasional hope that open relations could one day lead to Israelis and Arabs sharing commerce in Damascus is largely rhetorical, given entrenched hostilities and continued presence of terror organizations. These dynamics underscore the formidable barriers facing any American-led diplomatic endeavors.
Iran and Its Proxies: The Axis of Resistance
At the root of regional insecurity is Iran’s determination to project power through a network of proxies—the so-called Axis of Resistance. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and affiliated militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Gaza remain implacably hostile to Israel and U.S.-aligned states. Recent rocket and drone attacks attest to their operational reach and the ever-present threat they pose to regional stability. U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies continue to monitor Tehran’s maneuvers, insisting that long-term peace requires neutralizing this network’s capacity for violence and subversion.
Diplomatic Realities and Prospects for Change
While official summits and policy statements hint at new beginnings, Arab media analysis remains wary of short-term optimism. The Abraham Accords have produced meaningful, albeit careful, gains in economic and security cooperation, but daily realities in conflict zones blunt hopes for transformative change. Many analysts argue that foreign diplomacy—however robust—cannot outweigh the legacy of internal discord without sustained, incremental societal shifts.
Israel’s Priorities: Defense and Regional Partnership
Israel’s approach to regional diplomacy is guided by the need for defensible borders, reliable alliances, and an unwavering commitment to the safety of its citizens. Its government has expressed conditional support for American diplomatic efforts, emphasizing that protections must remain in place against attacks orchestrated by Iranian-backed terror groups. At the same time, Israeli authorities stress that international distinctions between a sovereign democracy and terror networks are non-negotiable and must inform all peace and normalization efforts.
International Stakeholders
Western governments view the President’s Gulf visit as a strategic opportunity to advance their own interests—whether in counterterrorism, energy security, or global trade. Close coordination with Israeli military and intelligence services is seen as critical to preserving regional order, deterring Iranian adventurism, and safeguarding economic stability in the face of persistent extremist violence.
Conclusion
The President’s engagement in the Gulf brings renewed focus to longstanding disputes, but also brings into sharp relief the challenges inherent in forging peace in the Middle East. Reliably bridging centuries of religious and political enmity will require more than summits and diplomatic overtures; only an honest reckoning with the underlying realities can provide a path toward a durable, just peace. As Arab commentators, Israeli defense officials, and Western leaders agree, the future of the region depends on addressing both internal divisions and external threats with clarity, resolve, and an uncompromising commitment to truth.
