Middle East

Israel and UAE reach US-brokered agreement to normalise relations

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U.S. President Donald Trump and other administration officials announcing the deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Aug. 13, 2020. Source: Screenshot.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates reached a peace agreement on Thursday to begin the process of normalising relations between the two Middle Eastern countries, in part brokered by US President Donald Trump and his administration.

The deal between the two nations was brokered largely by President Trump and is expected to lead to a “full normalisation” of diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations. Under the agreement, which was announced by Trump, Israel has agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to areas of the West Bank that it had discussed annexing.

The deal was finalised in a phone call on Thursday between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

In a joint statement by the United States, Israel and UAE posted by Trump on Twitter, it said that this was a “historic diplomatic breakthrough” and will “advance peace in the Middle East.”

The statement said that in the coming weeks, Israeli and Emirati delegations will meet to sign bilateral agreements on security, tourism, direct flights, investment, telecommunications, technology, health care, reciprocal embassies, culture, energy and the environment.

“HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted.

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Additionally, Israel and the UAE will “immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of” a vaccine for Covid-19.

Under the deal, however, Israel has agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to parts of the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria.

“The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible,” added the statement. In recent years, Israel has had visits and warming ties with other Gulf Arab states, including Bahrain and Oman. Clandestine relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia have reportedly grown as well.

In retweeting Trump, Netanyahu called it a “historic day.”

“Together we can bring a wonderful future. It is an incomparably exciting moment,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “I have the great privilege to make the third peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, the UAE.”

Bin Zayad confirmed on Twitter that an agreement was reached to “stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories,” and that Israel and the UAE “also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship.”

In an Oval Office announcement, Trump said that the deal would be known as the “Abraham Accord” after the “father of all three great faiths.”

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who was also in attendance at the Oval Office, said that “no person better symbolizes the potential for unity of these three great faiths.”

Trump also thanked his senior advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who had been leading the administration’s efforts to broker a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and for his efforts in securing the new deal.

“The president, like with all things, urged us to take an untraditional approach,” Kushner said in the Oval Office. “You can’t solve problems that have gone unsolved the way people have done before you and failed.”

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touted the “vigorous diplomatic outreach” by America, Israel and the UAE.

“The United States congratulates Israel and the Emirates for this remarkable achievement, which is a significant step forward for peace in the Middle East. Blessed are the peacemakers. Mabruk and Mazal Tov,” Pompeo said in a tweet.

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Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer commended the UAE for joining Egypt and Jordan in forging peace between Israelis and Arabs.

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