During the meeting they discussed ways to expand and establish peace and stability in the Middle East region. The Palestinian cause and the threat posed by Iran were also on the agenda

The United Arab Emirates, Israel and the United States strengthen ties at a tripartite summit in Washington

photo_camera PHOTO/ANDREW HARNIK - Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan during a joint press conference in Washington, DC, October 13, 2021.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahayan, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, met with his Israeli counterpart, Yair Lapid, and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington. The summit comes a year after the signing of the Abraham Accords between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. This pact, also known as the 'Deal of the Century', has been one of the most effective treaties in the region due to the close cooperation that now exists between Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem.

Since the signing of the agreement, the UAE and Israel have begun to cooperate in various sectors such as food technology, financial technology, cybersecurity, trade and agriculture. They have also established air routes for both passengers and cargo. At the diplomatic level, these relations have also been fostered. Over the summer, embassies were opened in Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, and in Dubai, Lapid opened a consulate. 

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The ties between the two states have also had an effect on other countries in the region. Bahrain has followed in its neighbour's footsteps, establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. Sudan and Morocco are also moving closer to the Hebrew state.

During the tripartite meeting, Emirati and Israeli representatives took the opportunity to intensify their ties. Zayed Al Nahayan announced that he would soon visit Israel at Lapid's invitation. The Israeli minister, in this regard, acknowledged that the two countries had become partners because of their 'common value base'.

Emirates and Israel seek to set themselves up as an inspirational model in the region

At the Washington summit, a roadmap was drawn up based on several pillars aimed at bringing peace and stability to the Middle East. The first part focuses on ensuring that the peace achieved between the UAE and Israel spreads to other countries in the region. "We hope that the UAE will be able to weave the future in a way that can be emulated in the Arab world," said the Emirati sheikh, explaining the inspirational model he intends to spread to the Emirates. "We are working for a bright future for the people of the Middle East," he added. 

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Blinken, for his part, said that cooperation between Israel and the Emirates, two major economic powers in the Middle East, would lead to the advancement of the region by stimulating economic growth, promoting technological innovation and strengthening people-to-people relations. As for Lapid, he also revealed that his country seeks to build more bridges with other countries in the region

Emirates, while moving closer to Israel, does not forget about the Palestinians

The Palestinian cause was also present at the meeting due to the regional relevance of the issue. "Success in our relations with Israel will not only encourage countries in the region but will also encourage the Palestinians to follow this path and this approach," said Zayed Al Nahayan. "We cannot negotiate peace in the region without the Palestinians being central to the discussion," he added.

In this regard, Blinken advocated a two-state solution, one Jewish and one Palestinian. "Palestinians and Israelis must enjoy the same rights of freedom and dignity and must move towards a two-state solution," he said. He announced that they would work with both Israelis and Palestinians to "support the path to a political solution to the current crisis".

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Lapid has also spoken out on the issue, as Israel is a key party to the issue. "Our goal is to work with the Palestinian Authority to ensure that every child has the opportunity to have a decent way of life," the Israeli minister said at the press conference with Blinken, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Following the Abraham Accords, the UAE was widely criticised by the Arab world as 'betraying the Palestinians'. However, Abu Dhabi has remained committed to the Palestinian cause despite its relations with the Jewish state. Indeed, it was the first Arab country to send emergency aid to the Gaza Strip to fight the coronavirus. It has also been providing financial assistance to the Gazans for years to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

"The Palestinian cause continues to hold a special place in the hearts and consciences of the Emirati leadership and people, as it is the just cause of Arabs and Muslims that expresses the values of truth, justice and goodness," writes Ahmed Nasser in the Emirati media outlet Al-Ain. 

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Warnings to Iran 

The three countries also devoted part of the meeting to addressing common challenges. Iran represents, for both Israel and the US, the main threat in the region. In this regard, the emirati minister warned that "there should not be a new Hezbollah in Yemen that threatens the borders of Saudi Arabia". The sheikh was referring to the Houthis, an Iranian-backed Shia militia fighting against Riyadh in Yemen. "We must establish a deep international understanding so as not to repeat the experience of southern Lebanon in Yemen," he said.

On the other hand, Blinken and Lapid did refer to Tehran directly. The Israeli diplomacy chief stressed that Iran had become 'a threat to security in the region' due to its nuclear development. Bliken reiterated the words of his Hebrew ally, noting that Iran "is procrastinating and taking advantage of the time to develop its nuclear system". He also used the summit to send a message to his Iranian counterparts, warning that "talks on the nuclear deal will not remain open forever". "Iranian intransigence complicates matters," he added

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Afterwards, the UAE and the US held a bilateral meeting. Blinken acknowledged the UAE's efforts in the war in Yemen and its role in Afghanistan. He also stressed Abu Dhabi's commitment to the environment. "Cooperation between the UAE and Israel in the field of combating climate change can benefit the region and the world," he said. The Secretary of State praised the steps the UAE has taken to alleviate the climate crisis, such as the commitment to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Israel, for its part, has also pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2050. 

Qatar against the Abraham Accords 

Doha has been one of the main detractors of the Emirate-Israel pacts. Qatar believes that the treaty "will not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", as Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the Qatari foreign minister, recently told Al Sharq. Al-Thani stressed that the agreement "does not include any expectation of ending the occupation". 

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However, Qatar has recently developed a rapprochement with Israel. Doha has opened media outlets in Israel. There has also been an exchange of visits between senior officials from the two countries.

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