War in Gaza forces tough choices on Israel's Arab partners

Protesters shout anti-Israel slogans during a sit-in in support of Palestinians, in Manama, Bahrain, Oct. 27, 2023. [Reuters]

The Israel-Hamas war is forcing tough choices onto the Jewish state's partners in the 2020 Abraham Accords, which must seek a middle ground between placating an angry Arab public and trying to preserve the economic and strategic benefits of the deal.

So far, the two main signatories - Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates - have made opposite choices, with the former halting economic ties and recalling its ambassador and the latter reiterating its commitment to the accords.