Analysis: From Washington to Moscow to Abu Dhabi, calls for calm in Gaza

On Monday, Israel’s diplomatic focus will be on the familiar UN Security Council roundtable, when the ambassadors, behind closed doors, will once again discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict.

But it’s unlikely to have any game-changing results. What matters is the diplomatic temperature in the room.

At least if the response from the United Arab Emirates is acceptable. A UAE communiqué stressed the “need to restore calm in the Gaza Strip, reduce escalation and protect civilian lives” and called for “maximum restraint” to prevent “new levels of violence and instability”.

For Israel, this response is important. UAE at the heart of the Abraham Accords, which means it is central to Israel’s push to normalize the region. So the decision of the Gulf states to park themselves in a safe zone already occupied by Europe and Washington makes a lot of sense.

“We are actively engaging with Israel’s Palestinian regional partners in an effort to achieve greater calm in the wake of these attacks. We certainly urge all parties to avoid further escalation,” John Kirby, the National Security Council’s strategic communications coordinator, said Friday.

Both the U.S. and the U.K. have cited Israel’s right to self-defense in their responses to the latest fighting. The reaction of Steffan Siebert, the German ambassador to Israel, was considered particularly sympathetic:

“New to me, unfortunately too familiar to Israelis. Restless sleep, thanks for the protection of the Iron Dome (anti-missile system). My thoughts are especially with the people of the South who are closest to the danger of terrorism . and many in Gaza who want to live a peaceful life,” he tweeted.

Even the European Union, in its statement calling for “maximum restraint on all sides”, endorsed Israel “to protect the rights of its civilians”. Something was missing from the statement issued by the French foreign ministry, although it did state that “both Israelis and Palestinians have the right to live in peace, dignity and security”.

This is Moscow’s reaction This is particularly noteworthy. Russia also called for “maximum restraint”. This proves that even in today’s tense international situation, Russia and the West can agree on at least one thing: No one wants a wider war in Gaza.