Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a “historic” deal that is expected to lead to full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations in an agreement that US President Donald Trump helped broker.
Under the agreement, Israel on Thursday agreed to suspend the application of sovereignty to Palestinian territories of the occupied West Bank that it had discussed annexation.
The peace deal was the result of lengthy talks between Israel, the UAE and the US that accelerated recently, White House officials told Reuters.
ANY breakthrough today! Historic peace agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2020
The agreement came after a phone call on Thursday between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
The UAE becomes only the third Arab nation to have active ties with Israel and the Gulf’s first Arab Gulf to do so.
“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will promote peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that it great potential in the region, “the statement said.
Trump welcomed the agreement as a first step, and spoke with reporters in the Oval Office.
“Now that the ice has broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries to follow the United Arab Emirates,” he said.
But the movement was demolished by senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi on Twitter.
“Israel has been rewarded for not openly declaring what it has done illegally and persistently since Palestine since the beginning of the occupation,” senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi wrote on Twitter. She also said that the UAE came forward with its “secret dealings / normalization with Israel”.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
.
