The White House announced a deal Thursday for the United Arab Emirates and Israel to work toward normal diplomatic relations.
Most Arab countries do not …
The White House announced a deal Thursday for the United Arab Emirates and Israel to work toward normal diplomatic relations. Most Arab countries do not have normal diplomatic relations with Israel. If the pact can be fulfilled, the UAE would join Egypt and Jordan as only the third Arab nation in the region with normalized ties. As part of the agreement, Israel has agreed to suspend its controversial plans to annex territory in the occupied West Bank — territory Palestinians have long hoped to be a part of a future state. The UAE and Israel have held informal ties for years. Speaking from the White House, President Trump took credit for the accord, which followed a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the UAE. The White House said Israel and the UAE “will 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.” Netanyahu had promised to annex large parts of the West Bank, which is home to nearly 3 million Palestinians and 450,000 Jewish settlers. The threat met with international condemnation from countries seeking to have the status of the territory decided through negotiations, not unilateral moves.
