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<div class="gmail-inner-article-top"><h1 class="gmail-">Yemen's dagger slices through 'normalization'</h1><p class="gmail-">Yemen’s
attacks on Israel’s vital shipping routes has compelled the occupation
state to seek an alternative land corridor via Saudi Arabia, the UAE and
Jordan, whose legitimacy is being corroded on the Arab street, while
Sanaa's is on the rise.</p><div class="gmail-another-name"><p><a href="https://new.thecradle.co/authors/mohamad-hasan-sweidan" style="color:rgb(164,4,4)">Mohamad Hasan Sweidan</a> -<font size="1"> <a href="https://new.thecradle.co/articles/yemens-dagger-slices-through-normalization">https://new.thecradle.co/articles/yemens-dagger-slices-through-normalization</a></font></p></div><div class="gmail-another-name" style="margin-top:16px"><p><span>DEC 20, 2023</span></p></div></div><div class="gmail-inner-article-img"><img src="http://thecradle-main.oss-eu-central-1.aliyuncs.com/public/articles/5b6d7a66-9f53-11ee-b5ec-00163e02c055.jpeg" alt="" width="440" height="208" style="margin-right: 0px;"><span>Photo Credit: The Cradle</span></div><div class="gmail-inner-article-content"><div class="gmail-row"><div class="gmail-col-md-8 gmail-col-sm-7"><div class="gmail-article-content"><span><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">In
early December, Israeli media broke the news of an agreement to
establish a land bridge between the port of Dubai and the occupied port
of Haifa. The reports claim this strategic accord aims to circumvent the
growing Yemeni threat to close vital sea lanes to vessels associated
with and/or destined for Israeli ports. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Just a fortnight later, the Israeli </span><a href="https://cars.walla.co.il/item/3629150"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><i><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Walla</span></i></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">website
revealed that the first shipment, originating from Dubai and traversing
the newly established land corridor encompassing the UAE, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan, and Israel, had arrived at Israeli ports. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">In
safeguarding and supporting Israel, these three Arab states have
reaffirmed their essential role in protecting and defending the
occupation state, enabling it to continue its atrocities against the
Palestinians.</span></p><img src="http://thecradle-main.oss-eu-central-1.aliyuncs.com/public/articles_media/1eb9cf3e-9f53-11ee-975e-00163e02c055.png" width="440" height="440" style="margin-right: 25px;"><span style="color:rgb(153,153,153)">Map of the Israel-Gulf land bridge project</span><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"><strong>Yemen’s Red Sea blockade on Israel </strong></span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">On 15 November, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen's Ansarallah movement, declared a </span><a href="https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/512232.aspx"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">blockade</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">on
Israeli ships passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
This proclamation marked the initiation of a naval conflict with Israel
in solidarity with Gaza, heralding a new phase of confrontation that
Israel had </span><a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200629-israels-ambitions-in-south-yemen-increase-risk-of-conflict-with-houthis/"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">anticipated for several years</span></span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Since 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, apprehensive of Ansarallah's presence along the Red Sea coast, </span><a href="https://sanaacenter.org/the-yemen-review/jan-feb-2023/19711"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">asserted</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Tel Aviv’s commitment to any international effort preventing the closure of shipping routes in the region. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">A
2021 report published by Israel's National Security Research Center
states that "the possibility of the Houthis attacking ships in shipping
lanes along the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, or the Gulf of Aden
poses a tangible threat to Israeli national security." </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">The
same report states that Yemenis may in the future intercept Israeli
ships passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait in order to pressure
Israel to change certain policies.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Four days after Houthi’s promise to target Israeli vessels, Yemeni forces </span><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/19/yemens-houthi-rebels-seize-cargo-ship-in-red-sea-israel-blames-iran"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">seized</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">a
transport ship with ties to Israeli tycoon Avraham Ongar, one of the
country's wealthiest magnates. Ansarallah-aligned military spokesman
Yahya Saree justified the seizure as a response to “heinous acts against
our Palestinian brothers in Gaza and the West Bank,” adding:</span></p><blockquote><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">“If
the international community is concerned about regional security and
stability, rather than expanding the conflict, it should put an end to
Israel’s aggression against Gaza."</span></p></blockquote><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">On
12 December, Yemen launched a missile strike on a Norwegian oil ship
destined for Israel's Ashdod Port in January. Saree explained that the
targeting followed the crew's refusal to heed warnings and announced the
continuation of ship blockades until Israel permitted essential aid
into Gaza. The Pentagon </span><a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/houthi-attacks-on-vessels-off-yemen-require-intl-solution-pentagon/3080949"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">confirmed</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">the
interception of Yemeni drones targeting Israeli ships, and called for
an international solution to an “international problem.”</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"><strong>Bab al-Mandeb’s strategic significance </strong></span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">The
Bab al-Mandab Strait serves as a crucial trade route connecting the
Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, with an annual value of
approximately </span><a href="https://sanaacenter.org/the-yemen-review/jan-feb-2023/19711"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">$700 billion</span></span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">. This vital waterway sees 4 million barrels of oil passing through daily, representing </span><a href="https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/121123-shippers-avoiding-red-sea-transits-after-attacks-watching-suez-canal-traffic#:~:text=Shippers%20avoiding%20Red%20Sea%20transits%20after%20attacks%2C%20watching%20Suez%20Canal%20traffic,-Author%20Claudia%20Carpenter&text=Shippers%20are%20diverting%20from%20Middle,shippers%20and%20industry%20have%20warned."><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">10 percent</span></span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> of global maritime trade and supporting the flow of 25,000 ships.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Recent </span><a href="https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61025"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">figures</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">for
the first half of 2023 show that the Bab al-Mandab handles quantities
of crude oil, condensate, and petroleum products equivalent to those
passing through the Suez Canal. Similarly, the volume of liquefied
natural gas (LNG) passing through the strait rivals that of the Suez,
which is approximately 4 billion cubic feet of gas per day. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify">Freightos, an Israeli shipping company, <a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/israeli-ships-forced-reroute-houthi-threats-intensify"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)">reported</span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"> </span>a notable 9-14 percent increase in shipping costs from China to the Israeli port of Ashdod in the last two weeks of October. <span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Judah Levin, head of research at Freightos, told the Israeli newspaper </span><i><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Globes</span> </i><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">that
the outbreak of war "is already affecting all goods reaching Israel
from China, the prices of which have started to rise in the past few
weeks."</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">The significance of this rise comes from the fact that China is currently Israel's</span><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">largest trading partner</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">by sea, with sea-borne cargo from China amounting to 20 percent of Israel's total maritime imports.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"><strong>‘Axis of Normalization’ comes to the rescue </strong></span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify">Due
to Sanaa’s bold move, the perceived threat to Israeli shipping in the
Bab al-Mandab has prompted the occupation state to explore alternative
routes for importing and exporting goods. Unsurprisingly, the UAE, the
Arab county that spearheaded the Abraham Accords' normalization thrust
with Israel, has stepped in to assist in overcoming the Yemeni obstacle.</p><img src="http://thecradle-main.oss-eu-central-1.aliyuncs.com/public/articles_media/957c0d54-9f52-11ee-b702-00163e02c055.png" width="440" height="440" style="margin-right: 25px;"><span style="color:rgb(153,153,153)">Map of the alternative shipping route to avoid the Red Sea</span><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">According
to reports from Israeli media, the collaborative effort between the UAE
and Israel to set up a land bridge connecting the port of Dubai to
Haifa, pass through Saudi Arabia and Jordan. However, Amman has since </span><a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231217-jordan-denies-existence-of-gulf-land-bridge-to-israel-to-bypass-houthis/"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">denied</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">these reports, claiming them to be “absolutely false.”</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">By mid-December, goods began flowing through this corridor, with </span><i><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Walla</span></i><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">
reporting the arrival of ten trucks from Dubai to the port of Haifa in
recent days. There is no doubt that this corridor offers a strategic
solution, allowing ships bound for Israel to bypass the Yemeni threat. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">However,
its successful implementation only goes to show the willingness of
Saudi Arabia and Jordan to be integral parts of this strategic
initiative – a move that could further delegitimize their rulers with
the overwhelmingly pro-Palestine Arab street. Notably, such a land
corridor only requires agreements between the involved parties, while
leveraging existing international routes.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">The
land bridge not only offers an alternative for Chinese ships which
transport one-fifth of Israeli sea-borne imports, but also reduces the
lengthy journey around the south and west of Africa to reach the Strait
of Gibraltar from </span><a href="https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/houthi-ship-attacks-are-affecting-red-sea-trade-routes"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">31 days to 19 days</span></span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"><strong>Counting the costs </strong></span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">The
land route connecting Dubai and Haifa spans 2550 km, with trucks
requiring approximately four days to traverse it – a shorter duration
compared to ships navigating the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. While the
transportation cost per kilometer is slightly higher than the Red Sea
route, it is significantly lower than the current cost of shipping
through the Strait of Gibraltar. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Despite
the cargo capacity limitations of the land corridor (around 350 trucks
per day) compared to shipping vessels, it offers expedited transit from
Dubai to Europe, saving around 10 transportation days over the Suez
Canal route.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">But while the corridor might be adequate for meeting Israel’s immediate needs amid Yemeni threats, it falls short of providing a</span><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231105-an-alternative-to-the-suez-canal-is-central-to-israels-genocide-of-the-palestinians/"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">complete alternative</span></span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">
for sea routes to Europe. This development suggests that Israel could
potentially withdraw from maritime shipping, posing a challenge to Egypt
and the Suez Canal. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Further
down the line, it is possible that the land corridor may also attract a
number of Asian and European states. Egypt, it must be emphasized,
begins to lose out as soon as the Dubai-Haifa land route is adopted, as
the vessels that circumvent the Red Sea also naturally bypass the Suez
route.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">However,
the greater threat to Egypt's economic interests lies in the prospect
of future railway links connecting Dubai with the occupation state,
significantly enhancing shipping capacity and reducing costs and transit
times. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"><strong>Yemen stands against Israel </strong></span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">As the land corridor gains traction, reports suggest that risk management firm Ambrey has </span><a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ambrey-expands-advisory-for-israel-linked-vessels-amid-red-sea-attacks"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">advised</span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> </span></span><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">ship
owners to assess vessels with Israeli links due to potential mobility
challenges. Nevertheless, the commencement of the land corridor stands
as a boon for the occupation state and its businessmen by eliminating
the need to utilize the Red Sea route.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">It
should be noted that the adoption of the land corridor opens avenues
for Israel to connect with other international corridors through the
UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. The </span><a href="https://new.thecradle.co/articles/iran-steps-up-delivery-of-goods-to-russia-via-north-south-corridor"><span style="color:rgb(164,4,4)"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">North-South corridor</span></span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> connecting Russia, Iran and India, was linked to </span><a href="https://new.thecradle.co/articles-id/7227"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Saudi Arabia</span></a><span lang="EN" dir="ltr"> this year, which can funnel those goods on to Israel now. </span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">That
too applies to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a
cornerstone of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which
transports goods to and from China through the Pakistani port of Gwadar.
From Gwadar, goods travel to UAE ports and then, potentially, through
the land corridor to Israel. In this way, the three Arab states, Saudi
Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan, can link Israel to other key international
corridors – unless Iran and Pakistan decide to throw a wrench in those
works.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">What
all this makes clear, however, is that Yemen's entry into the frontline
battle against Israel and in support of Palestine has reverberated
globally. The impoverished nation, despite facing years of conflict, now
poses a significant and growing threat to Israel's national security
and supply lines through its actions in the Bab al-Mandab.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">By
aligning its maritime attacks to the cessation of Tel Aviv's horrifying
siege of Gaza, Ansarallah has forced the world to pay greater attention
to the magnitude of Israel's unprecedented military campaign against
Palestinian civilians in Gaza.</span></p><p style="margin-left:0cm;text-align:justify"><span lang="EN" dir="ltr">Conversely,
the collaborative moves by the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan to open up
a land bridge to Haifa underscores their preference to pander to Israel
over buttressing Arab and Muslim solidarity. </span></p></span></div></div></div></div>
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