The normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is a dramatic, historic and strategic accomplishment.
The Gulf state is an expert in various fields, and both nations are expected to benefit greatly from these new ties.
Abu Dhabi, the leader of the UAE, has impressive military capabilities based on a strong army and air force that have already proven themselves in operations beyond their borders.
The Emirates already possess advanced American-made defense systems and jet fighters which they successfully deploy in a large operational radius.
Israel and the Arab states, including the UAE, have a shared view of Iran as a strategic and even existential enemy.
On the one hand, Iran benefits greatly from its economic ties to the UAE, but on the other it is no secret that if Tehran could it would have conquered the Gulf states if it were not fearful of the consequences.
Israel, as a key pillar of its national security policy, must invest great effort and resources in deepening its security and diplomatic ties with the Arab nations.
Its success in this endeavor is noteworthy and improves its abilities to handle the Iranian threat.
Israel enjoys its unprecedented security stability due to the IDF and its overall image.
The Arab nations, which tried time and time again to annihilate Israel militarily, have reached the conclusion that it is better to cooperate with it, chiefly in the matters of state and military security.
But Israel must not forget that this stability could vanish at any point. The connection Jerusalem has with Washington is crucial in this regard. The U.S. has pledged and continues to commit to maintaining the IDF's military advantage, a commitment enshrined in U.S. law.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu inspecting an American-made F-35 fighter jet
(Photo: Defense Ministry)
In practice, the United States refrains, as its policy is required by law, from selling advanced and sophisticated weapons systems to Arab countries, even those among them that are associated with Israel in peace relations.
An example of this commitment is the F-35 fighter jets the IAF acquired over the past years.
These planes are essentially a multi-level and sophisticated defense system that grant Israel total military supremacy in the region.
In the world of intelligence, there are two thresholds: the intentions of the other side and its capabilities.
Intentions are fluid and prone to rapid change, and while the ability to threaten is built through a slow process, it can become a serious problem if and when those intentions do change.
Take Turkey, which was once a close friend of Israel but has now become a strategic foe.
The same goes for Iran, which before the 1979 Revolution was a soulmate with deep ties to Jerusalem, but is today its number one enemy.
In the 2011 Arab Spring, the Muslim Brotherhood took over Egypt and nearly created a dual threat with Turkey against Israel. Fortunately, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has saved Israel from this menace.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in New York in 2018
(Photo: GPO)
In various conversations with my respected Arab colleagues, I was asked why Israel would not allow the Arab nations to be on the same military footing and refuses to abandon its desire for qualitative advantage.
My answer was very simple: As long as Israel maintains this qualitative advantage, stability and peace will endure.
Unfortunately, this is the essence of the Middle East.
The only way to maintain peace and long-term stability in the region is for Israel to prevent the sale of American-made F-35 fighter jets to any other Middle Eastern state, regardless of current or future relations.