By Brooke Singman
Fox News
August 13, 2020
President Trump on Thursday announced what he called a “Historic Peace Agreement” between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, saying they agreed to “full normalization of relations.”
“HUGE
breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT
friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted Thursday
morning.
breakthrough” was at “the request of President Trump,” and that Israel will “suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world.”
Israel and the UAE also said they will continue their efforts to “achieve a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance 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 will unlock the great potential in the region,” the statement read. “All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.”
Delegations from Israel and the UAE are expected to meet in the coming weeks to “sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit.” “Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations,” the statement also read.
Trump on Thursday said he had a call with Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The president told reporters Israel and the UAE will “begin cooperation across the board,” along with exchanging embassies and ambassadors. The president said he expected other countries to follow the UAE’s lead on this effort to cooperate with Israel going forward.
The president said the action would be known as the “Abraham Accord,” named for the “father of all three great faiths.”
“No person better symbolizes the potential for unity of these three great faiths,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said from the Oval Office Thursday.
The president went on to joke that he “wanted to call it the Donald J. Trump accord,” which received laughs in the room.
“I didn’t do that,” Trump added, again touting the historic importance of the agreement.
“We are already discussing this with other nations,” Trump said. “So, you will probably see others of these.”
The president went on to cheer his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner for his efforts in securing the agreement.
“The president, like with all things, urged us to take an untraditional approach,” Kushner said Thursday. “You can’t solve problems that have gone unsolved the way people have done before you and failed.”
Kushner said the president “tries to unite people focusing on common interest as opposed to common grievances.”
“We were able to achieve results others could not achieve,” Kushner said.
“This will advance the region and advance the world.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer tweeted shortly after the agreement was announced saying: “A great day for peace! Israel commends the courage of MBZ for the historic decision of the UAE to join Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) in making peace with Israel. Israel deeply appreciates all. @POTUS Trump has done to make this breakthrough possible. More to come!”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo touted the “vigorous diplomatic outreach” by the president, 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 tweeted.
__________
Netanyahu states Israel's planned annexation of large parts of the West Bank is still on the table despite statements by the US and UAE to the contrary
The New Arab
August 13, 2020
Israel's planned annexation of large parts of the occupied West Bank as only been "delayed" and not cancelled following a peace agreement between Israel and the UAE, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday.
Emirati Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed had earlier stated the Gulf nation had reached an agreement with Israel "to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories" as part of a deal to normalise relations.
In a seperate statement, UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash said the agreement had dealt a "death blow" to annexation.
The US-brokered pact - only the third such agreement of its kind between Israel and an Arab state - was announced earlier on Thursday in a statement shared by President Donald Trump on Twitter.
Despite bin Zayed's statement, Israel's annexation plans remain "on the table", Netanyahu told reporters at a press conference later on Thursday.
Annexation "will be done only alongside the
United States," the Israeli premier said. "Without coordination, in the
best case, will do nothing, and in the worst case, will harm relations
between us."
"The United States asked that Israel temporarily postpone annexation," Netanyahu explained.
"The United States asked that Israel temporarily postpone annexation," Netanyahu explained.
It is the first such peace deal to be reached with an Arab state that did not involve land swaps or agreements to withdraw Israeli troops or settlers from Palestinian territory, Netanyahu said.
The Israeli premier's decision to delay the annexation process will be unpopular among much of his key base in the religious right.
"The faith in you has expired," settler leader David Alhayani said in response to the agreement. Opposition MK Bezalel Smotrich said the deal proved Netanyahu was not a true "nationalist".
Prominent pro-settlemenet politician Naftali Bennett welcomed the deal but said Netanyahu had missed out on an "historic opportunity".
Oded Revivi, a top figure in the Yesha settler council and a major advocate of annexation, said the move was a "fair price" to pay for the peace agreement though.
Facts on the ground
Critics and opponents of the Israeli government say rhetoric around "halting" or "suspending" annexation belies the reality on the ground.
"Israel
got rewarded for not declaring openly what it's been doing to Palestine
illegally & persistently since the beginning of the occupation,"
prominent Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi said in a tweet.
"Israel merely 'suspended' its announcement of a reality it has already illegally imposed on Palestinians," Baddar tweeted.
Palestinian militant group Hamas slammed the deal as a "reward for the Israeli occupation's crimes".
"The normalisation is a stabbing in the back of our people," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said.
No surprise
For many, the agreement hailed as an "historic breakthrough" by Trump did not come as a shock.
The normalisation of ties between Israel and the powerful Gulf state had been expected for some time.
Tel Aviv has also pursued diplomatic ties with Oman, Bahrain and Sudan, as well as reportedly making in roads towards normalisation with Saudi Arabia in recent years.
Both President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu acknowledged as much in their statements on Thursday, saying they hoped the deal would pave the way for further agreements with Arab states.
"The UAE (Bahrain and Oman to follow) have long coveted a formal ties with Israel. Framing it as an exchange for an Israeli postponement of its annexation of the occupied West Bank is fools no one," journalist Ali Younes said in a tweet.
Both Bahrain and Egypt - which was the first Arab state to sign a peace agreement with Israel - have welcome the deal.
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