Israel and UAE sign historic agreement to normalize diplomatic relations
An historic agreement. US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, agreed on Thursday to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
"This historic diplomatic breakthrough will promote peace in the Middle East region [...] The three countries face many common challenges and will benefit mutually from today's historic achievement," they said in a joint statement released by the WAM news agency, which also reported that delegations from Israel and the UAE will meet in the coming weeks to sign a series of bilateral agreements in the areas of investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, health, culture, environment, as well as the establishment of reciprocal embassies.
According to a tripartite declaration, "opening direct links between two of the most advanced societies in the Middle East" will transform the region by stimulating economic growth, enhancing technological innovation and forging closer relations between people. Under the agreement, Tel Aviv will suspend the annexation of part of the West Bank and focus its efforts on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world. "The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that further diplomatic progress can be made with other nations and will work together to achieve this goal," the statement said.
Both Israel and the United Arab Emirates have shown their willingness to accelerate cooperation between the two countries to develop a vaccine against COVID-19. "Working together, these efforts will help save Muslim, Jewish and Christian lives throughout the region," the statement said. With this announcement, the Emirates has become the third Arab country to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel, after Egypt and Jordan.
"Israel and the United Arab Emirates will join the United States in launching a Strategic Agenda for the Middle East," they said. The establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations will expand diplomatic, trade and security cooperation, they said. The three leaders also share a similar perspective on the region's threats and opportunities. This agreement is an example of the "shared commitment" between the three countries to promote stability through diplomatic engagement, greater economic integration and closer security coordination. "Today's agreement will lead to better lives for the people of the United Arab Emirates, Israel and the region," they said.
The leaders of Israel and the United Arab Emirates thanked Trump during the meeting for "his dedication to maintaining peace in the region and the pragmatic and unique approach he has taken to achieve it". This peace agreement is the product of long negotiations between the three nations that have agreed to suspend the application of sovereignty to areas of the West Bank and to continue working to "achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting solution" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "As stated in the Vision for Peace, all Muslims who come in peace will be able to visit and pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, and the other holy places in Jerusalem must remain open for peaceful worshippers of all religions," the statement issued between the three countries concludes.
The U.S. president has concluded this agreement through the social network Twitter. "GREAT progress today! Historic peace agreement between our two BIG friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates". This announcement -- which will go forward like the Abraham Accords -- is a success for Trump's foreign policy, who is seeking re-election on November 3.
For his part, UAE Deputy Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash has also said on Twitter that the UAE's "bold initiative" to normalize relations with Israel seeks to put the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis and the possibility of a Palestinian state back on track.
Several White House officials have reported that Trump's adviser Jared Kushner, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz were deeply involved in negotiating the agreement, as were Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House national security adviser Robert O'Brien.
