Israel, UAE announce US-brokered deal to normalize relations

Aug 13, 2020

Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached a historic US-brokered peace deal on Thursday to fully normalize diplomatic relations between the two Middle Eastern nations.

Praising the breakthrough as one that will advance Middle East peace and “unlock the great potential in the region,” a joint statement released by the White House said that Israel would suspend declaring sovereignty to parts of the West Bank as planned under the Donald Trump administration’s controversial Middle East peace plan. Rather than pursue an annexation pledge widely criticized by the international community, Israel will for now focus on expanding ties with Arab nations, the statement said.

Prior to now, Israel had no formal diplomatic ties with Arab countries in the Gulf. In the coming weeks, Israeli and Emirati delegations will meet to sign bilateral agreements on investment, tourism, direct flights, security and other areas, in addition to setting up reciprocal embassies, the statement said.

The deal was sealed in a phone call Thursday between President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and de facto UAE ruler Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The UAE and Israel will also join the United States in launching a “Strategic Agenda for the Middle East,” focusing on diplomatic, trade and security cooperation.

The deal hands Trump a significant diplomatic victory heading into November’s presidential election. In a statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Thursday’s news a “remarkable achievement.”