Which countries will recognize Israel by December 31?Kuwait

Kuwait is perhaps the best example of how, in the Middle East, a common enemy does not necessarily make two countries friends. Among the Gulf states, Kuwait has for years held one of the toughest positions on Israel and normalization with it. There are no diplomatic relations, there are significant restrictions on Israelis, and the Palestinian issue remains a cornerstone of Kuwaiti policy toward Israel. The confrontation with Iran and the growing concern about Iranian policy may create overlapping security interests for Kuwait and Israel. But let's not be confused: A common interest in Iran does not eliminate the dispute over the Palestinians. Anyone who assumes that the Iranian threat will simply cause Kuwait to abandon its traditional positions toward Israel and move toward normalization is putting their money on a deer horn. This is also a broader reminder of the Israeli debate on the Gulf. In Israel, there is sometimes an assumption that the fear of Iran will ultimately be stronger than the Palestinian issue, and therefore Arab countries will move toward Israel almost regardless of Israeli policy in the West Bank and Gaza. Kuwait illustrates well why this assumption is problematic. It is certainly possible to share interests with Iran. It is perhaps even possible to have quiet cooperation in certain areas. But the distance between this and a fundamental change in Kuwait's attitude towards Israel is very great. The Iranian threat can bring interests closer together. It does not erase the Palestinian issue. And anyone who wants to see Israel more deeply integrated into the Gulf in the future needs to understand these two facts simultaneously.