The peace between Israel and Egypt (and later Jordan) was an actual peace treaty. It was to end the reoccurring cycle of wars and cross border violence. It was made for Egypt to regain the territory of the Sinai while giving the absolute minimum - a cold “peace” in return. There was little done to change the attitude of the Egyptian public towards Israel including keeping inflammatory and anti-Semitic school text books. It is a cold peace mainly functioning well at the governmental, military and intelligence level. Being publicly pro-Israel online in Egypt could mean difficulties for you. Jews are still, after more than 40 years of peace, basically unwelcome to live in Egypt after being violently kicked out of this country in the 20th century
Compare and contrast the above with the following.
The Abraham Accords is a normalization agreement. While Bahrain, the Sudan and Morocco are taking to the Abraham Accords in different ways and speeds while their populations get used to the idea, the United Arab Emirates is by far leading the way and trailblazing what can be done.
Basically the Abraham Accords have done far, far more for normalization in one year than over 40 years of cold peace have ever done.
The UAE has made it clear to everyone - Israelis, Emiratis and anyone who will listen that they are absolutely gung-ho about normalization. A flurry of scientific, financial, regulatory and numerous other agreements have been signed with even more on the way. Israelis and Jews are clearly welcome to visit, welcome to reside, welcome to set up businesses and synagogues, welcome in every way possible to make the ambitious dream of a Trillion Dollar partnership happen.
And Israelis have not been slow to notice. In the first year some 200,000 Israeli tourists flocked to the UAE despite COVID and some 40 Israeli companies rushed to set up shop in UAE free trade zones.[4]
A “mere” Billion USD in bilateral trade is expected for 2021 (just in goods, not counting services, tourism and direct investment) rising from previously almost no (official) trade in 2019. Everyone agrees though that this is just the start. The groundwork merely being laid.
The effects? Just as small example - Israel tends to take only minimal notice of Egyptian or Jordanian governmental views for its internal policies. After 40+ years of peace. The UAE though, after merely a year, well Israel takes Emirati sensibilities into account to a certain degree now. Whether regarding Judea and Samaria or say Israeli COVID policies, what the UAE thinks now matters.[5]
In summary, the difference between the “Abraham” normalization agreement and the cold peace with Israel’s neighbors is profound.
Footnotes
[5] Fearing rift, Foreign Ministry said to veto declaration of UAE as virus hotspot
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