TEL AVIV — A striking new billboard in Israel has drawn attention not for what it says—“The ‘Abraham Alliance’: It’s Time for a New Middle East”—but for what it omits while showcasing former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and leading Arab figures.
Backed by the Coalition for Regional Security, the billboard promotes the “Abraham Shield Plan”, portraying it as an “iron shield” defence pact against Iran. Yet recent events reveal the true nature of this alliance: it’s not just rhetoric—it’s a strategic shield enabling Israel’s expansionary ambitions under the guise of regional unity.
On June 13, 2025, in response to ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran launched over 150 missiles and drones toward Israel . But the barrage was not met by Israel alone. Jordan’s air defenses intercepted projectiles over its territory , while Qatar shot down Iranian missiles targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Base, intercepting nearly all of them . Crucially, UAE closed its airspace and supported Qatar’s interception, aligning Gulf states with Israel’s defensive posture .
These developments make the billboard’s claim of a united “shield” more than symbolic—it’s being operationalized by Arab states who actively protect Israeli interests. Yet Palestine is absent from the narrative, nowhere represented on the display even as its people remain under siege.
Critics argue this “New Middle East” ideology masks a deeper agenda: normalization serves as cover for the further entrenchment of Greater Israel, while the Palestinian struggle is erased from public discourse. Under this newly constructed regional order, Arab governments are trading centuries of solidarity for shared defence mechanisms—at the expense of justice and human rights.
And while Arab publics witness their leaders depicted as partners, the billboard fails to acknowledge their complicity in protecting and enabling a regime engaged in daily oppression. As the rhetoric of unity envelops the region, Palestinians are left off the map, their liberation sacrificed in the name of strategic alliances.
