Weekly Commentary: Window of Pre-Election Legitimacy For Israel – Sunni Arab Agreements Closing

With a Biden victory a definite possibility, it makes sense for Israel and the Sunni Arab Leaders to move quickly within the small “pre-election window” with the goal of passing milestones which establish conditions on the ground such that the legitimacy of follow-up activity carried out in what could be the “lame-duck” period up to the January inauguration is not tainted.

Why the rush?

It isn’t just that a Biden administration may rush to embrace Iran in a photo op deal.

The Sunni Arab leaders could very well find themselves under attack on two fronts:

1. For failing to squeeze out sufficient concessions from Israel (concessions which, if required, would make the entire process a non-starter).
2. A selective application of various norms to question the very legitimacy of the leaders.

The UAE and Bahrain set such an example.

Who will follow?