If moderate Muslim states continue hesitating while Tehran dominates the regional narrative, Israel may squander its historic opportunity to expand the Abraham Accords.
“Gaza remains the main obstacle to a regional peace deal,” Saudi journalist and researcher Abdulaziz Alkhamis told The Jerusalem Post following a rare conference at the Knesset this week. The statement was as direct as the moment was unprecedented: a Saudi voice — alongside a Syrian peace activist — urging Israeli lawmakers to seize a moment that may not come again.
Alkhamis, who has participated in behind-the-scenes discussions about Gaza’s future and Saudi-Israeli normalization, stressed that the war in Gaza must end with a comprehensive solution involving the broader region, including Iran and Turkey.
Tehran is the primary spoiler, he warned, because “Khamenei loves war and wants it to continue.” Iran’s leadership, he argued, “thrives on chaos,” even as ordinary Iranians suffer the consequences.
According to Alkhamis, the clearest way to counter that chaos lies in an open alliance between Israel and pragmatic Middle Eastern capitals.
“The Americans and Saudis share a mutual interest: a two-state solution,” he noted. “The problem is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” suggesting Riyadh cannot move forward with normalization while Jerusalem fails to present a credible political path for the Palestinians.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Despite this critique, Alkhamis emphasized that Israel holds unprecedented leverage. Following Operations Swords of Iron and Rising Lion, he said, Israel enjoys “unmatched military strength, deterrence, and strategic opportunity.” But he warned: “Power unused for peace is power wasted.”
Alkhamis delivered a powerful message: Israel faces a potential once-in-a-generation chance to shift from managing conflict to shaping the future of the region. If ignored, he warned, “Israel will not only lose Saudi Arabia but also the Arab world’s emerging consensus in favor of integration.”
The Knesset event marked the launch of the Caucus to Promote a Regional Security Agreement and introduced the Abraham Shield Plan — an Israeli blueprint for a regional security and economic alliance of moderate Arab states aligned against Iran and its proxies. Organizers believe the plan could lead Israel from endless conflict to sustainable security and prosperity.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Udi Dekel, a former lead negotiator in Israeli-Palestinian talks and co-leader of the Coalition for Regional Security, summarized the stakes:
“Opportunities don’t fall from the sky — they vanish.”
He reminded attendees that what once seemed impossible — such as Egypt-Israel cooperation or the Abraham Accords — has become reality.
The next step, he argued — a public Saudi-Israeli alliance against Tehran — is bigger, riskier, but potentially within reach.
The Region’s Choice
Now, the choice lies not just with Jerusalem, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi, but with every pragmatic capital in the region. This opportunity will vanish if moderate Muslim states continue to hesitate while Tehran seizes control of the regional narrative.
It is time, the editorial argues, for Arab states to align with a partner committed to long-term security, and for Israel to show that its intentions are peaceful, practical, and sincere.
Lian Pollak-David, another coalition founder and former National Security Council adviser, reinforced this point:
“Military power is not enough. The next step is to realize our diplomatic strength.”
Labor MK Gilad Kariv added that a comprehensive Gaza deal “must be followed by bold agreements that transform the region.” Lawmakers from Yesh Atid and Blue and White, including Ram Ben Barak and Alon Schuster, joined the caucus — signaling rare bipartisan support.
For its part, Israel must articulate a clear ‘day after’ strategy for Gaza. The Abraham Shield framework envisions a demilitarized Gaza Strip governed by technocrats and supported by Arab investments — a model that seeks to balance Palestinian dignity with Israeli security.
If Israel defines this vision in concrete terms, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi can explain to their citizens that normalization is not betrayal — but a bold step toward peace. If not, the fragile Arab consensus on Iran as the true threat could fracture, leaving Israel isolated once more.
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