Reshaping the Middle East

On December 13, 2021, history noted that Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli prime minister to pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 2020.

Bennett was greeted at the airport by UAE crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ), who personally chauffeured him to his own palace.

It was also a moment of joy for British conservative politician Nigel Farage turned presenter at GB News, a new conservative news channel, who is interviewing Sir Mortimore K.L. Herdson-Bakingston, director general of the Britannia Institute of Middle East and North Africa Strategies.

Sir Mortimore has been intensely lobbying that his country honors Col. T.E. (Thomas Edward) Lawrence by erecting his statute at Knightsbridge. It was him, who turned Arab Bedouin tribes into a powerful guerrilla army against the Ottoman Turks, and thus created the Gulf states.

Why Knightsbridge? It is where, each summer becomes a parking lot for Gulf Arab playboys’ supercars ranging from Ferraris to Lamborghinis flown from the Middle East to London.

In 1918, then 30-year-old Lawrence – the illegitimate son of the Victorian aristocrat Sir Thomas Chapman and his domestic servant -- had refused a knighthood that King George V wanted to grant him. In 1921, when Churchill became colonial secretary, he hired Lawrence as advisor on Arab affairs.

Sir Mortimore insists, not only Britain owes much of its present-day prosperity to the Gulf states but also Israel owes much to these states in firming its stranglehold over the region.

Farage briefly introduces his guest and starts his program, “Sir Mortimore, I am sure that you are beholden that an Israeli prime minister paid an official visit to a Gulf state?”

“Of course, Mr. Farage, we planted the seed, but it is the United States that has and continues to play an admirable role in making Israel a regional superpower. I would say that after Britain withdrew east of Suez, Israel has been our point person there, so to say.

“Since 2013, Britain has been in the process of a strategic shift back to an east of Suez position. We have a permanent military presence at Al-Minhad in the UAE… Royal Air Force’s home.

“America has carried the big stick for us too since we withdrew east of Suez. A succession of American presidents has played their due roles in firming up Israel’s position. The normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE, as well as several other Arab states, overseen by Donald Trump, broke the long-festering taboo that Israel would be isolated until the Palestinian issue got settled.

“In this case, Trump role was like what we saw being done by Aussies in the [Brisbane] Gabba Test on Dec. 11 (2021), winding up the first Ashes victory with a mere 20 to score.

“Israeli ministers have previously visited the UAE, but Trump’s Abrahamic Accords blasted away the veils. [Israeli foreign minister] Yair Lapid was welcomed by UAE foreign affairs minister - of course MbZ’s little brother, Abdullah bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi on June 21 (2021). And we have Naftali’s visit.”

Farage briefly interrupts, “And Emirates has daily flights to Tel Aviv!”

Sir Mortimore, “You are right. This 3-hour, 10-minute flight will become multi-flights daily. Like people coming for lunch or dinner to UAE.

“I would say that the January 2014 stroke that affected MbZ’s half-brother Khalifa changed the world and to our desire. Khalifa recovered but by then, he was reduced to a ceremonial presidential role. MbZ is heaven-sent. He is deft.

“He has obliterated the Gulf Cooperation Council, which all but left in name. Rather than having to deal with the five other members, MbZ is now in the position of having to influence only one and the biggest of them all, who is his young Saudi protege, MBS (Mohammed Bin Salman).

“Khalifa has had his 15-seconds of fame, when January 4, 2010, the world's tallest man-made structure known as Burj Dubai, was renamed Burj Khalifa in his honor, after Abu Dhabi gave Dubai $10 billion to help pay off debts.

“Mr. Farage, I would again say that we should properly honor Col. Lawrence for his debt is immense. Look, although, Bennet and company have toppled Benyamin Netanyahu, but they accept his role in mainstreaming their country among the Arabs.”

“Sir Mortimore, now’s the time to strike. [U.K. prime minister] Boris [Johnson] seems to be facing a tough time… he has been on the receiving end for quite some time. Convincing him that honoring Col. Lawrence will create much goodwill for him, especially among the royalists and those who yearn return to imperial glory. And oh, I forget, the florists will be doing blooming business with Arabs buying tonnes of bouquets to lay at Lawrence’s feet. Britain owes it to Lawrence forever his stroke of brilliance that reshaped the Middle East.”