For decades, the Arabic states They presented themselves as stability pillars in an area immersed in conflicts, building glittering capitals with rapidly growing economies, attracting millions of foreign workers with financial opportunities and tax -free lifestyles, as CNN notes. But this year, the sense of security was hit when two regional forces first attacked a Gulfian country for the first time. First, Iran hit an American air base in Qatar In June, after the attack of USA in its nuclear facilities. Then came the attack of Israel This week, aimed at Hamas’ political leadership in Doha.

The Arab states of the Gulf are anxious as the Gaza war, which began almost two years ago thousands of kilometers from their borders, is getting closer to them.

With a few sustainable military options for retaliation, Qatar has promised A “collective” regional response to Israel’s attacks. This answer is currently “under consultation and discussion” with other partners, Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al -Thani, on Wednesday. The decision is expected to be taken at an Arab Summit in Doha this weekend.

Perhaps the most immediate reaction came from a Gulf state that has the narrower ties with Israel: the United Arab Emirates. UAE President Mohammed bin Zead al -Nachan arrived in Doha with a large delegation less than 24 hours after the attack. Qatar was his first stop on a vagina to coordinate the reaction to the Israeli attack, also visits to Bahrain and Oman. On Friday, the UAE called an Israeli diplomat to denounce Israel’s “dangerous and cowardly” attack.

Regional analysts have told CNN that the Arabic Gulf states will probably consider options that will highlight the regional unit and prevent further Israeli attacks, but may be limited by limited practical options. “We have to take a stand now, because if we don’t do it, other Gulf capitals will follow,” said Bander al-Saif, an assistant professor of history at the University of Kuwait, referring to the Gulf countries.

Diplomatic options

Analysts argue that one of the options could be the downgrading of the UAE’s diplomatic relationships with Israel or to amend the participation in Abraham’s agreements, a deal to normalize relations between Israel and three Arab states, which was the largest achievement of US President Donald.

The UAE had expressed their dissatisfaction with Israel even before the Doha attack. Lana Nusheimpe, a senior UAE official, warned that Israel’s plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank are a “red line” that would “betray the spirit of Abraham’s agreements”.

The Prime Minister of Qatar said, on his part, that part of Doha’s answer would be legal, including through international law. On Thursday, there was a unanimous statement by the UN Security Council that condemned the Israeli attack.

Hassan Alhassan, a senior Middle Eastern politics researcher at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in Bahrain, said the Gulf states have not so far participated in a significant extent in proceedings against Israel in international courts, but this may change.

Another option is to retire from the role of mediator between the US and some of its opponents, according to analysts.

Safety

Gulf states have experienced significant internal disputes over the years, but remain bound by mutual defensive conditions signed decades ago.

Abdullaziz Sagger, president of the Saudi Gulf Research Center, said the Gulf Arab countries could resort to activating and expanding the “Peninsula Shield Power” – a 1980s military alliance.

“These clauses have been theoretical so far,” Alhassan said, but “they could now be activated, creating a consolidated Gulf administration, incorporating the air and missile defense system.”

Most of the seven Gulf states depend on US military equipment and host US bases, but recent US failures defending their territories could push Arab countries to differentiate their defensive capabilities or demand stronger security.

Sagger noted that the Israeli attack could push the Gulf area to “enter a serious dialogue” with the Trump government on the terms of their corporate relationship in the field of security, proceeding from the simple purchase of weapons from the US and “for clearer guarantees”.

However, efforts to achieve a regional commonline may be limited by the competitive domestic interests of the Gulf states, which are still cautious about undermining their relations with the US under the Trump government, which is the largest supporter of Israel.

“Gulf states are now realizing that they are not particularly well equipped to face the threat of Israel because their national security is based on defense cooperation with the US – which have a clear foreign defense policy that gives Israel a military advantage,” Alhassan said.

Financial response

The trillions of dollars in annual revenue from the exports of oil and gas in the area are strategically invested in international assets, partially utilizing the area’s power to secure influence in important decision -making centers around the world.

Gulf states such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates could use their huge state investment funds to impose trade restrictions on Israel.

“They could decide to use their funds to boycott companies that have significant shares in the Israeli economy,” Alhassan said.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have committed together to invest about three trillion. Dollars in the US economy, when Trump visited the area as part of his first trip abroad during his second term.

“The trillions that the Gulf Countries will invest in the US in the next decade are based on the condition of a secure and protected vagina, which can benefit from these investments,” Bander al-Saif said. “But if we feel insecure because of an American ally such as Israel, money can go elsewhere to better ensure safety in the vagina,” he added.