There is a question Washington should ask more directly: what do the Gulf states really want?
The official language is familiar: de-escalation, sovereignty, dialogue, Palestinian rights, regional stability, and balanced relations. These are legitimate concerns. But behind the communiqués lies a harder reality. Gulf capitals know that Israel is no longer isolated. They know that Iran is not merely a difficult neighbor. They also know that saying one thing in Washington, another in Tehran, another in Jerusalem, and another to Arab public opinion has become increasingly difficult to sustain.
