Middle East Officials Urge Deals With Israel, Secret War Prep

Diplomatic overtures toward Israel are being secretly paired with military contingency planning, according to a report from Israel's KAN News. The report claims that regional officials have been advising states to reach formal agreements with Israel — while fully intending to break those deals later and using the interim period to prepare for a future war. The revelation adds a layer of strategic cynicism to the ongoing normalization efforts in the Middle East.

Secret Advice: Sign, Then Violate

KAN's report, which cited unnamed regional officials, suggests that some Middle Eastern leaders view peace agreements as temporary tactical measures rather than genuine commitments. The advice, as described, is to sign agreements with Israel to secure short-term benefits — such as diplomatic cover, military aid, or economic relief — while quietly building offensive capabilities. Officials reportedly encouraged their peers to exploit the lull in hostilities to improve their armed forces, intelligence networks, and strategic positions.

This approach reflects a deep-seated distrust of Israel despite public displays of cooperation. The report did not name specific countries, but the context points to Arab and Gulf states engaged in normalization deals, including the Abraham Accords and recent moves by Saudi Arabia.

A Region of Shifting Alliances

The report lands against a backdrop of intensified diplomatic activity. In May 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump attended a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in Riyadh alongside Qatar's Emir, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The photo opportunity underscored Washington's push to expand the circle of nations recognizing Israel.

But behind the scenes, the KAN report points to a dual-track strategy. Some officials are said to view these agreements as reversible, contingent on the balance of power shifting. The leaked advice reportedly urged states to "prepare for a future war" during the peace period, hedging against a possible collapse of negotiations or a regional conflagration.

Israel's Strategic Dilemma

For Israel, the report reinforces long-held suspicions that some of its new partners are not reliable. Israeli defense analysts have repeatedly warned that normalization without deep societal trust could be fragile. The KAN report may prompt Israeli leaders to push for stronger verification mechanisms in future agreements, or to maintain a higher state of military readiness despite the signatures on paper.

The story also complicates the Biden administration's and Trump administration's narrative of a pacified Middle East. If Arab leaders are indeed preparing to violate treaties, then the entire framework of regional stability is more precarious than presented.

Historical Precedents and Regional Rivalries

The idea is not without precedent. Egypt and Jordan, both of which signed peace treaties with Israel, have maintained periods of calm but also faced accusations of cold peace. However, the notion of preparing to violate a treaty as state policy is more radical. It suggests that some officials believe war with Israel is inevitable and that treaties are merely a delaying tactic.

Regional rivalries also play a role. Iran, which supports anti-Israel militant groups, has consistently condemned normalization deals. Some Gulf states may be trying to balance their U.S.-brokered agreements with Israel against public opinion that remains largely pro-Palestinian. Advising to prepare for war could be a way to show domestic audiences that they are not surrendering the cause.

What Happens Next

The KAN report has no official confirmation, and the unnamed officials' identities remain unknown. But its impact could be significant. Israeli policymakers may now approach future diplomatic initiatives with greater caution, and other states may reconsider their own normalization paths if they suspect partners are duplicitous.

In the coming months, observers will watch whether Israel demands new security guarantees or whether military intelligence flags unusual troop movements or procurement in countries that recently signed agreements. The report may also accelerate Israel's own military modernization and strengthen its domestic argument against territorial concessions. For the Middle East, the line between diplomacy and war remains tantalizingly thin.