Sudan's isolation ends as US destroyer anchors in port

In the last two months, five countries have normalised relations with Israel - the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Bhutan.

Now, there is intense speculation whether Pakistan will be next with journalists to pundits weighing in. However, Israel and Pakistan haven't said anything but there have been feelers.

The idea has high profile backers as members of the Pakistani military establishment support it. Some religious leaders also like the prospect of a partnership, however, Islamabad may not have the stomach to go ahead with it.

Pakistan PM Imran Khan had issued a statement in November claiming that Pakistan was under pressure from the United States to befriend Israel.

However, when asked had any Arab country made a similar demand, PM Imran Khan said: "there are things we cannot say. We have good relations with them."

Although the good-relations bit is debatable, Imran Khan's words triggered intense speculation as the Pakistani media began debating the subject. Some of them said it's time for a change.

Experts from Pakistan ended up on Israeli channels advocating better ties between Pakistan and Israel and within a week the Pakistan government was forced to issue another denial.

The Pakistan foreign ministry "categorically rejected" what it called baseless speculation and since then, Pakistan has made every effort to distance itself from the idea.

In fact, the story got so big that even the Pakistani army had to issue a statement. They supported the Pakistan government's stand, however, the reports have not died down as religious leaders have added fuel to the fire.

Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani a prominent religious figure who was a part of the Jamiat ulema-e-Islam and had served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan earlier this month asked about the issue of Israel.

Sherani backed the idea of normalising ties.

"This is an international issue. I support the recognition of Israel. Educated Muslims need to understand that the Quran and history prove to us that the land of Israel belongs only to the Jews. King David built the house of God in Jerusalem for the Israelis and not for the Palestinians,” Sherani said.

More religious leaders have joined the chorus even as Maulana Jamal Qadri was reminded of his visit to Israel.

Qadri claimed he was sent by Nawaz Sharif "to hold talks with officials in Tel Aviv".

“The people of the then foreign ministry wanted to know whether Pakistan could develop relations with Israel or not,” Qadri said.

“I told the prime minister twice that Pakistan’s parliament should be consulted or a national dialogue be held to take a decision in this regard,” he added.

According to Qadri, Nawaz Sharif was quite keen on formalising ties with Israel.

In 2018, an Israeli jet had landed in Islamabad as reports said it was an Israeli delegation visiting Pakistan. Islamabad, however, denied the story for a week, but one year later Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi supported friendship with Israel.

“We wish all the best for Israel. We have many friends in the region and we would like you to join them," Qureshi told an Israeli news outlet while talking about the American efforts to improve the political situation in the region.

In the end, Qureshi admitted Pakistan was interested in advancing ties with Israel. In the past, Pervez Musharraf had called for better ties with Israel&nbsp;

In 2005, Musharraf had even taken a bold step by publicly shaking hands with the then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Istanbul.

Clearly, there is desire, what Pakistan lacks is the courage to take the plunge.

In the last two months, five countries have normalised relations with Israel - the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Bhutan. Now, there is intense speculation whether Pakistan will be next with journalists to pundits weighing in.

In the last two months, five countries have normalised relations with Israel - the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, Morocco and Bhutan. Now, there is intense speculation whether Pakistan will be next with journalists to pundits weighing in. However, Israel and Pakistan haven't said anything but there have been feelers. The idea has high profile backers as members of the Pakistani military establishment support it. Some religious leaders also like the prospect of a partnership, however, Islamabad may not have the stomach to go ahead with it. Pakistan PM Imran Khan had issued a statement in November claiming that Pakistan was under pressure from the United States to befriend Israel. However, when asked had any Arab country made a similar demand, PM Imran Khan said: "there are things we cannot say. We have good relations with them." Although the good-relations bit is debatable, Imran Khan's words triggered intense speculation as the Pakistani media began debating the subject. Some of them said it's time for a change. Experts from Pakistan ended up on Israeli channels advocating better ties between Pakistan and Israel and within a week the Pakistan government was forced to issue another denial. The Pakistan foreign ministry "categorically rejected" what it called baseless speculation and since then, Pakistan has made every effort to distance itself from the idea. In fact, the story got so big that even the Pakistani army had to issue a statement. They supported the Pakistan government's stand, however, the reports have not died down as religious leaders have added fuel to the fire. Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani a prominent religious figure who was a part of the Jamiat ulema-e-Islam and had served as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan earlier this month asked about the issue of Israel. Sherani backed the idea of normalising ties. "This is an international issue. I support the recognition of Israel. Educated Muslims need to understand that the Quran and history prove to us that the land of Israel belongs only to the Jews. King David built the house of God in Jerusalem for the Israelis and not for the Palestinians,” Sherani said. More religious leaders have joined the chorus even as Maulana Jamal Qadri was reminded of his visit to Israel. Qadri claimed he was sent by Nawaz Sharif "to hold talks with officials in Tel Aviv". “The people of the then foreign ministry wanted to know whether Pakistan could develop relations with Israel or not,” Qadri said. “I told the prime minister twice that Pakistan’s parliament should be consulted or a national dialogue be held to take a decision in this regard,” he added. According to Qadri, Nawaz Sharif was quite keen on formalising ties with Israel. In 2018, an Israeli jet had landed in Islamabad as reports said it was an Israeli delegation visiting Pakistan. Islamabad, however, denied the story for a week, but one year later Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi supported friendship with Israel. “We wish all the best for Israel. We have many friends in the region and we would like you to join them," Qureshi told an Israeli news outlet while talking about the American efforts to improve the political situation in the region. In the end, Qureshi admitted Pakistan was interested in advancing ties with Israel. In the past, Pervez Musharraf had called for better ties with Israel In 2005, Musharraf had even taken a bold step by publicly shaking hands with the then Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Istanbul. Clearly, there is desire, what Pakistan lacks is the courage to take the plunge.

Is Pakistan set to normalise ties with Israel?

Donald Trump has been busy in the last few months of his presidency. On Thursday the US president announced that Morocco has become the latest country in the Middle East to agree to normalise relations with Israel with this, Morocco becomes the fourth country in the past four months to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

The others were the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan - all four deals were engineered by the US. 
&nbsp; 
Trump had promised a peace deal four years ago, and three months ago, he delivered it, just before the US election as the UAE and Bahrain established diplomatic ties with Israel. It was a seismic shift in West Asian politics. The deal was called "Abraham accords".

Now, as Trump prepares to leave office, more countries are signing the deal. The latest is Morocco - another Arab nation making peace with Israel.

However, the road was uphill to enable the deal as America had to change its policy towards Morocco with Morocco's claim over the Western Sahara which is a former Spanish colony. It has been controlled by Morocco for the last forty years.

No country recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the region, however, now America does that's how important the peace deal was for Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost no time in thanking him.

"I've always believed that this historic day would come, I've always worked for it. I want to first thank President Trump for his extraordinary efforts to expand peace, to bring peace to Israel and the peoples of the Middle East," Netanyahu said.

"President Trump, the people of Israel and the state of Israel will be forever indebted to you for your magnificent efforts on our behalf. I want to thank, too, the king of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, for taking this historic decision to bring a historic peace between us," the Israeli PM added.

Trump may not have won a second term in office but he leaves as one of America's most embattled presidents, however, this is a foreign policy win like no other. Donald Trump has accomplished what his predecessors promised, tried and failed at - he got the peace deal that they couldn't.

Under Trump, Israel has normalised ties with four Arab nations. For the last seven decades, most Arab countries have boycotted Israel over its dispute with Palestine. Now that has changed as other nations are expected to sign similar deals.

They have Saudi Arabia's blessing but Riyadh itself isn't ready to sign on the dotted line, just yet. Donald Trump's efforts have a big role to play in this shift. The shifting sands of Arab politics have done the rest. The Gulf states and Israel have now found a common enemy in Iran.

Palestine has been relegated to the back burner. Sunni Arabs and Jews are now allies with Shia Iran threatening both and Donald Trump claiming credit for delivering what he calls the deal of the century. 
&nbsp;

Donald Trump has been busy in the last few months of his presidency. On Thursday the US president announced that Morocco has become the latest country in the Middle East to agree to normalise relations with Israel with this, Morocco becomes the fourth country in the past four months to establish diplomatic relations with Israel.

Donald Trump has been busy in the last few months of his presidency. On Thursday the US president announced that Morocco has become the latest country in the Middle East to agree to normalise relations with Israel with this, Morocco becomes the fourth country in the past four months to establish diplomatic relations with Israel. The others were the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan - all four deals were engineered by the US. Trump had promised a peace deal four years ago, and three months ago, he delivered it, just before the US election as the UAE and Bahrain established diplomatic ties with Israel. It was a seismic shift in West Asian politics. The deal was called "Abraham accords". Now, as Trump prepares to leave office, more countries are signing the deal. The latest is Morocco - another Arab nation making peace with Israel. However, the road was uphill to enable the deal as America had to change its policy towards Morocco with Morocco's claim over the Western Sahara which is a former Spanish colony. It has been controlled by Morocco for the last forty years. No country recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the region, however, now America does that's how important the peace deal was for Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost no time in thanking him. "I've always believed that this historic day would come, I've always worked for it. I want to first thank President Trump for his extraordinary efforts to expand peace, to bring peace to Israel and the peoples of the Middle East," Netanyahu said. "President Trump, the people of Israel and the state of Israel will be forever indebted to you for your magnificent efforts on our behalf. I want to thank, too, the king of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, for taking this historic decision to bring a historic peace between us," the Israeli PM added. Trump may not have won a second term in office but he leaves as one of America's most embattled presidents, however, this is a foreign policy win like no other. Donald Trump has accomplished what his predecessors promised, tried and failed at - he got the peace deal that they couldn't. Under Trump, Israel has normalised ties with four Arab nations. For the last seven decades, most Arab countries have boycotted Israel over its dispute with Palestine. Now that has changed as other nations are expected to sign similar deals. They have Saudi Arabia's blessing but Riyadh itself isn't ready to sign on the dotted line, just yet. Donald Trump's efforts have a big role to play in this shift. The shifting sands of Arab politics have done the rest. The Gulf states and Israel have now found a common enemy in Iran. Palestine has been relegated to the back burner. Sunni Arabs and Jews are now allies with Shia Iran threatening both and Donald Trump claiming credit for delivering what he calls the deal of the century.

Donald Trump's 'deal of the century': Israel's peace deal with 4 countries

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Sudan's isolation ends as US destroyer anchors in port

Is Pakistan set to normalise ties with Israel?

Donald Trump's 'deal of the century': Israel's peace deal with 4 countries