Israel-UAE Agree to Normalize Diplomatic Relations

Mediated Trump "Historic Agreement"

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to normalize diplomatic relations. Israel has decided to halt the annexation of the West Bank, a Palestinian autonomous territory. This is being seen as a new milestone for peace in the Middle East.

Donald Trump, President of the United States, is receiving applause from his close aides in the office after announcing the agreement on establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 13th (local time), according to AP News and The New York Times (NYT), U.S. President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that Israel and the UAE had agreed to normalize diplomatic relations through U.S. mediation, and reaffirmed this at a White House press conference, stating it would "lead to greater cooperation."

The three countries issued a joint statement signed by President Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, UAE. In the statement, Israeli and UAE delegations are scheduled to meet within the next few weeks to sign bilateral agreements on investment, tourism, direct flights, security, and communications. According to the agreement, Israel will halt its annexation of the West Bank, which is recognized under international law as Palestinian autonomous territory. The two countries are expected to exchange ambassadors and open embassies soon.

President Trump said, "I look forward to inviting them (the leaders of Israel and the UAE) to the White House in three weeks to officially sign the agreement."

This is the third time Israel has established diplomatic relations with an Arab country. It has already signed peace agreements with neighboring Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994). However, the UAE is the first Gulf Arab country to do so, making this particularly significant.

President Trump, who mediated the agreement, called the normalization of relations between the UAE and Israel "a tremendous breakthrough" and "a historic peace agreement between our two great friends." Prime Minister Netanyahu welcomed it on Twitter as a "historic day," and Crown Prince Mohammed mentioned that the UAE and Israel have created a new roadmap for bilateral relations.

On the other hand, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), strongly opposed the agreement, calling it "treason."

President Trump predicted that "additional agreements will come from the Middle East region within this year."