Analyzing the Potential of Israeli-Omani Normalization

On September 15, 2020, the United States, under President Donald Trump, mediated an agreement known as the Abraham Accords, which formally normalized diplomatic relations between the State of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the Kingdom of Bahrain. What was initially a trilateral agreement between Israel and two of the Persian Gulf’s wealthiest states expanded in the subsequent months to also include Morocco and Sudan. As such, the Abraham Accords marked one of the most significant developments in the Arab-Israeli peace process in decades. Today, three years since the Accords’ ratification, rumors have been circulating of other Arab states in the region either formally signing the agreement or otherwise normalizing their relations with Israel. Recent developments in the Sultanate of Oman lead some experts to believe that the Sultanate may be the next Middle Eastern state to normalize and establish diplomatic relations with Israel. This article will outline and analyze the recent diplomatic developments between Israel and Oman and what diplomatic normalization could mean for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Iran’s evolving role as a regional power, and Omani domestic society.