Experts in the News

As tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, Gulf states could influence Israel's campaign and avert a wider regional war. “Saudi Arabia can hold hope in keeping the prospects of a Saudi-Israel deal alive," said Coates Ulrichsen.

“In the current conflict, Qatar has a pragmatic working relationship with Israel where Qatar has been providing humanitarian and financial support to Gaza since 2018, and a functional relationship with the political leadership of Hamas. We see Qatar involved in the mediation to secure and release hostages because of those relationships on both sides...they can act as the man in the middle to serve as a back channel for communication and dialogue.”

Saudi Arabia’s recognition of Israel “would be a game-changer” for the Arab and Muslim world, enabling many more states in the region to normalize relations with Israel. But the Hamas attacks of October 7, “torpedo any movement towards a deal” for the coming future, said Coates Ulrichsen. 

“There will be a need for Arab states to take the lead in trying to devise some sort of policy response which can tackle the underlying issues as well as the most immediate ones which prompted [Hamas' attack on Israel] on October 7,” said Coates Ulrichsen.

"The Israel-Hamas war cuts at the heart of the regional de-escalation dynamics and strategy of 'de-risking' that the Saudi leadership has put a premium on achieving," said Coates Ulrichsen, as business executives headed to Saudi Arabia in the long shadow of the conflict in Gaza.