Romania, caught between Israel and Palestine: Historical chance or huge risk? Expert in the Middle East: “Once there were mediators between Arabs and Jews”

Romania is, along with France, the United Kingdom or Canada among states recognizing Palestine, and countries like the US and Italy are in the other camp. Expert in the Middle East and president of the Think-Tank Middle East Political and Economic Institute, the political scientist Flavius ​​Caba explains, for “Adevărul”, which would be the benefits of Romania in this political decision.

The Israeli tanks make the gaza strip. Photo: EPA EFE JPG

More and more states decide to recognize Palestine, but others refuse and continue to support the Government policy of Tel Aviv. The last state to announced on Tuesday, September 23, Palestine recognition is France. Previously, countries like the UK, Canada, Portugal and Australia have done the same.

The tectonic plates of politics are changed

Romania has been among the first countries to recognize, since 1988, the Palestinian state. More recently, Romania has been among the states that voted at the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) in favor of a statement that presents “concrete measures, with precise and irreversible terms “for a solution with two states between Israel and Palestinians.”

At the same time, the European Union came out of its reserves and announced, through the voice of Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, that it takes into account not only the partial suspension of the EU and Israel, but also sanctions for the Jewish state.

Romania's position could bring a number of benefits, believes Flavius ​​Caba, an expert in the Middle East and president of the Middle East Political and Economic Institute.

What can Romania win

First of all, Romania has an image gain among important countries in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or Qatar are some of the rich states in the area with which Romania is interested in having good economic and political relations.

“Romania has traditionally had a position that allowed it to have good relations with both the Arab and Israel. But what is new now is that we did not have such a close relationship with the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council, but the closest we had with Kuveit. Other positions towards communist ideology ”, times,” explains Flavius ​​Caba.

In his opinion, both Romania and the European Union, had a balanced position and generally proceeded correctly in relation to Palestine and the Arab states in the area. “In general, Europeans are not relevant players in certain dimensions in the Middle East area. It is not Romania anymore, although it was. Romania, but especially the European Union, in general, have contributed a lot with humanitarian support for the population in Gaza and not only ”, he says.

Romania was once a mediator between Arabs and Jews

Romania was an important player in the Arab area before 1990. In a certain period, Bucharest even had the ambition to be one of the mediators between Palestine and Israel, including certain successes.

“Romania was a great player in this area, taking into account our policy before 1990, in which we know that it wanted to be a mediator between the two states, between Palestine and Israel. Romania actively participated in trade in Iraq, then actively participated in the construction, not the reconstruction, Syria, long before the Civil War. Baniyas, the first hydrocarbon extraction area in the area was established by Romania.“Says Caba.

In the past, Romania, as a socialist state, has managed to win the sympathy of the Arab states that fought against the former colonial powers, the United Kingdom and France, in particular.

“It was an extended and frequent activity, according to the ideology of the respective period, where the communist ideology in Bucharest was close to the socialist ideology in the nationalist-socialist area of ​​the Arab states. So, somewhere was a resonance of interest, I apparently supported them in their anticolonial struggle, they were fighting the council. Gathered, because the positioning of the states that compose this body was different from this communist ideology”, Explains Florin Caba.

All Europe wants the thousands of billions of Arabs

Through its balanced policy regarding the state of Palestine, Romania has captured in recent years and the goodwill of the countries that constitute the Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar. That is, even the most prosperous states in the area.

And she's not alone. Even more important countries in the West, who once had colonies in this area, the United Kingdom and France, are trying to enter the grace of rich Arab states and benefit from investments.

Flavius ​​Caba. Photo: Truth

On the other hand, in terms of Romania, relations with Israel should not suffer. Currently these relationships are solid, especially in the political plane, but from a commercial point of view they are not necessarily very extensive.

“In terms of commercial relations, in general, between Romania and Israel, they do not have a very high value, but they are important, relevant, in this dynamics of trade. It is true, the trade of Israel that Germany is much more relevant, no longer talking about the United States. Romania has positioned correctly and it was not anti-Israel. Hamas prisoners, but at the same time asked for the conditions to enter with humanitarian aid in Gaza. points out the expert.

What business can we do with the Arabs

In parallel, it is expected that Romania's economic relations with important Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates or Qatar to mark an upward curve. Romania can and has to attract investments in this area, especially since it has found openness and interest from the other side.

“Probably, this is, in my opinion, an appropriate time to develop relations with all the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Even if at the level of Brussels there is a strategy regarding the relationship with the European Union, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Romania could be registered in this strategy. But, we also have these particular approaches to each state, but also with each state, but also with each state, Saudi, but with each relationship it is different.”, Says the expert.

Investments in energy are essential, but Romania can also export food in these states.

“There must also be our companies with potential to be present. We already have many Romanians there, workers or engineers, both in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but also in the United Arab Emirates, where there are many companies in Romania who have opened representation offices. Business with these Arab states start from energy, especially to the Gulf area. Hydrocarbes and want to bet on renewable, alternative, but also on a diversified economy.adds Flavius ​​Caba.

An endless war

The bad news is that this conflict in Gaza will not end this year. Israel benefits from the support of the United States of America, and tensions will not only end, but it is expected to grow in the next period.

“They are not just the huge problems in the Gaza strip, we see that there are also decisions to develop certain actions in the Cisiordan area. It will be a rather complicated period. It is unlikely that the problems are solved this year. As in Ukraine, the light at the end of the tunnel is not almost at all,” considers the expert.

The solutions are apparently few, but not non -existent. Despite his friendship with Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump could be involved at some point, especially since he wants to be perceived as a man of peace. Although the US will not recognize Palestine, Americans can put pressure on their allies.

“There should be a plan, a political plan to cease fire, so the solution will be, in my opinion, is one political one, not one on the path of weapons”, Points Flavius ​​Caba.

US and China can do more for peace

Countries like the United States and possible China could be involved, but also other states, including Arabic ones. But neither Washington nor Beijing are in a hurry.

“There are certain nuanced approaches here, namely the United States, through this position, is quite difficult. And it has also been discussed by the involvement of other actors, such as China. But I do not think that China is currently prepared to get such an important role, although it has huge commercial interests in the area. Certain principles of involvement in the Middle East. Gulf cooperation must now start from a cessation of fire in the area, and President Trump must still find a solution in the next period to stop this crisis and to fulfill his own goal, namely to win the Nobel Peace Prize ”says Flavius ​​Caba.

However, in the medium and long term, it is expected that the United States of America will move to a gradual policy in the area, as in Europe.

“This is interesting that at the beginning of the mandate, President Trump, in his external politics, set out to disagnt as soon as possible from these two areas, namely from the Middle East and from Europe. Not totally, but in part. It will solve them, it will focus 100% on that strategic rivalry with China on East Asia, the Asia Pacific area ”, Flavius ​​Caba concludes.