Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal

[webfact]

Israel, UAE to normalise relations in shift in Mideast politics; West Bank annexations on hold

By Maha El Dahan, Jeffrey Heller and Steve Holland

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces a peace agreement to establish diplomatic ties, between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, during a news conference at the prime minster office in Jerusalem, August 13, 2020. Abir Sultan /Pool via REUTERS

 

DUBAI/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday that they will normalise diplomatic ties and forge a broad new relationship, a move that reshapes the order of Middle East politics from the Palestinian issue to the fight against Iran.

 

Under the accord, which U.S. President Donald Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank. It also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the conflict-riven Middle East.

 

Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. But the UAE, along with most other Arab nations, did not recognise Israel and had no formal diplomatic or economic relations with it until now. It becomes the first Gulf Arab country to reach such a deal with the Jewish state.

 

Officials from the three countries called the accord "historic" and a breakthrough toward peace. But Palestinian leaders, apparently taken by surprise, denounced it as a "stab in the back" to their cause.

 

A joint statement said Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed had "agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates".

 

The accord will allow the two countries "to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region," it said.

 

Israel and the UAE are expected soon to exchange ambassadors and embassies. A signing ceremony is due to be held at the White House.

 

"As a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty" over areas of the West Bank as envisioned in a U.S. plan announced by Trump in January, it said.

 

The agreement, to be known as the Abraham Accord, also gives Trump a foreign policy accomplishment as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3. Speaking in the White House Oval Office, Trump said similar deals are being discussed with other countries in the region.

 

Trump said the agreement unites "two of America's closest and most capable partners in the region" and represents "a significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East."

 

The UAE said it would remain a strong supporter of the Palestinian people, who hope to create an independent state in the occupied West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, and that the agreement maintained the viability of a two-state solution to the longstanding Israel-Palestinian conflict.

 

The accord could also be a personal boost to Netanyahu, who is on trial for alleged corruption and whose domestic popularity has dropped over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

In a televised address, Netanyahu said the deal would lead to "full and formal peace" with the UAE and voiced hope that other countries in the region would follow its example. It also entailed acceding to a request from Trump to "temporarily wait" on implementing his annexation pledge, Netanyahu said.

 

"It's an incomparably exciting moment, a historic moment for peace in the Middle East," Netanyahu added.

 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, however, rejected the accord. Spokesman Abu Rudeineh, reading from a statement outside Abbas's headquarters in Ramallah in the West Bank, said it was a "betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa (mosque, Islam's third-holiest shrine) and the Palestinian cause".

 

Asked if the Palestinian leadership had been aware the deal was coming, veteran negotiator Hanan Ashrawi told Reuters: "No. We were blindsided. ... It is a complete sell-out."

 

In Gaza, Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the armed Islamist group Hamas, said: "Normalisation is a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and it serves only the Israeli occupation."

 

The UAE's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed said the agreement would stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, for which Israel had been awaiting a green light from Washington.

 

Senior UAE official Anwar Gargash said the deal had helped defuse what he called a ticking time-bomb. Gargash urged the Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table.

 

'NIGHTMARE' FOR IRAN

Trump's special envoy Brian Hook called the agreement a "nightmare" for Iran. An Iranian official said the agreement would not secure peace in the region.

 

Railing against "criminal Israel", Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, a special adviser to Iran's parliamentary speaker, said in a tweet: "Abu Dhabi's behaviour has no justification, turning back on the Palestine cause. W/ that strategic mistake, #UAE will be engulfed in Zionism fire."

 

Iran and Israel are arch foes. Israel is particularly concerned about suspected Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons, which Tehran denies. Iran is also involved in proxy wars from Syria to Yemen, where the UAE has been a leading member of the Saudi-led coalition opposing Iran-aligned forces there.

 

With a population of less than 10 million but the Arab world's second-largest economy thanks to oil, the UAE has exerted growing commercial and military clout in the Gulf and the wider region over the past two decades, much of it aimed at confronting Islamist militants and the influence of Iran.

 

Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications and other issues, the joint statement said.

 

"Everybody said this would be impossible," Trump said.

 

"Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates' lead," Trump added. This was already being discussed with other states, he said.

 

(Reporting By Maha El Dahan, Lisa Barrington and Parisa Hafezi, Steve Holland in Washington; Jeff Heller in Jerusalem, Writing by Angus MacSwan; Editing by Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-14

 

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[webfact]

Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal: ‘We can make a wonderful future’

Third-ever peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state includes embassies, direct flights; agreement “suspends” annexation, but Netanyahu says: “I will never give up on our right to our land.”

By LAHAV HARKOV, OMRI NAHMIAS   

AUGUST 13, 2020 22:45

 

L-R: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: REUTERS)

 

Israel and the UAE agreed to full normalization of relations in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years.

 

Israel agreed to suspend its planned extension of sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria to facilitate relations with the UAE and potentially other Arab and Muslim countries.

 

The agreement will include establishing embassies and exchanging ambassadors, investments into the Israeli economy, trade, direct flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, an investment in Israeli efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine – as first reported in The Jerusalem Post last month – and cooperation in matters of energy and water. An important element of the deal for the UAE is the expectation that its citizens would be able to visit the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem.

 

Full story: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israel-and-uae-reach-historic-peace-deal-638524

 

-- © Copyright THE JERUSALEM POST 2020-08-14

 

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[Puchaiyank]

These types of alliances in the Middle East while bringing some hope to the region,  historically do not last very long.  

 

Let's hope this one is different...and the UAE leaders are not assassinated to destabilize these countries once again...

[Tug]

I would be delighted if it bears fruit let’s all hope it pans out

[ezzra]

The old adage of "if you can't beat them, join them" seems to finally dawned on them, Arab and muslim countries would have profited and fared much better had they didn't let their hatred rules their heads, while some arab countries have realised that and acted up it, some are still buried in outdated and useless animosity and disdains toward the jewish state, let's hope that this union will be heralded as a success and others will soon follow...

[rabas]

Historic. Not since Egypt and Israel established diplomatic relations.

[simple1]

Would be fascinating to read the secret sections of the agreement.

[wombat]

No wars means no money for capitalism....this isn't going to last long 

[Bender Rodriguez]

this will work as good as how thailand handles deep south conflict ... 

[dexterm]

So unelected dictators agreed to recognize Israel's brutal illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and got nothing in return but a few pieces of silver for trade deals. A pity ordinary Emiratis don't have a say in the matter.

Then they had the gall to hide their treachery by claiming they were furthering the cause of the Palestinians rather than feathering their own corrupt nest.
Shameful.

 

I will be adding Emirates to my personal boycott list. Hope BDS do too.

 

Looks like Biden and Harris will be continuing the charade of supporting phony 30 year negotiations towards a two state solution while they turn a blind eye to Israel's expansion and apartheid.
Hopefully the voice of progressives in Congress will <deleted> their conscience.

 

In that the PA is now obsolete, all Palestinians need do is stay put and demand equal rights in a single state. 

[CanadaSam]

Great news, but couldn't have come at a worse time, as it somewhat bolsters the red-headed fool's chances for re-election.

[Dumbastheycome]

Heralded as  a "Peace " deal but really not at  all. The UAE and Israel have never had any direct military conflict in recent times and have  cooperated in policies in resistance to Iranian influence.

At worst have been diplomatic  squabbles  over an assassination in 2010 which  led  to a  no travel ban (sort of ) by Israelis  to the UAE.

This formalization of Diplomatic involvement will have little effect on the overall issues in the  Middle East but it does temporarily make Netanyahu and Trump appear to be a little  better despite  both being  embroiled in ongoing investigations and public discussions about corruption  etc.

That in almost the same moment Netanyahu announced his intent to continue at a later time the  annexation of Palestinian  territory IMO only confirms this  event is a  small sideshow.

[Srikcir]

This "Peace Deal" is just a consolation prize or diversion from Kushner's failed Palestine-Israel Peace Deal negotiated solely between Kushner and Israel. That might make Trump look weak.

So Trump for his re-election campaign personally comes up with his own "peace deal" between two nations who essentially have no political issues between them.

[khunken]

This is a meaningless deal just in an attempt to boost Trump's failing re-election bid.

 

What would be far more worthwhile would be a peace deal which gets the UAE out of its involvement in Yemen, a totally horrendous escapade (with the Saudis) causing one of the World's poorest countries to have a worsening humanitarian disaster.

 

'Unfortunately' that would disrupt the US weapons suppliers to both Saudi & the UAE.

Edited August 14, 2020 by khunken
grammar

[simple1]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

This "Peace Deal" is just a consolation prize or diversion from Kushner's failed Palestine-Israel Peace Deal negotiated solely between Kushner and Israel. That might make Trump look weak.

So Trump for his re-election campaign personally comes up with his own "peace deal" between two nations who essentially have no political issues between them.

Why do you believe trump personally came with the 'deal'?

[Morch]

13 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

These types of alliances in the Middle East while bringing some hope to the region,  historically do not last very long.  

 

Let's hope this one is different...and the UAE leaders are not assassinated to destabilize these countries once again...

 

It's not an "alliance". It's not even a peace agreement, but establishing formal relations. As for the offered "historical" comment, the OP paints a different picture - "Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.". Both peace agreements are in place, even if relations aren't the warmest.

 

[Morch]

11 hours ago, ezzra said:

The old adage of "if you can't beat them, join them" seems to finally dawned on them, Arab and muslim countries would have profited and fared much better had they didn't let their hatred rules their heads, while some arab countries have realised that and acted up it, some are still buried in outdated and useless animosity and disdains toward the jewish state, let's hope that this union will be heralded as a success and others will soon follow...

 

There's that, and then there's the flip side - to get this agreement, Netanyahu had to shelf his Annexation drive. Granted, it wasn't going nowhere anyway, but the same concept applies - eventually, reality wins.

[Morch]

10 hours ago, wombat said:

No wars means no money for capitalism....this isn't going to last long 

 

I'm not sure what "money for capitalism" actually means, but kinda doubt profit in capitalistic systems is based solely on wars. As there was no war between the two countries, the economic aspect of this new agreement is probably better than assumed above.

[Morch]

7 hours ago, dexterm said:

So unelected dictators agreed to recognize Israel's brutal illegal occupation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and got nothing in return but a few pieces of silver for trade deals. A pity ordinary Emiratis don't have a say in the matter.

Then they had the gall to hide their treachery by claiming they were furthering the cause of the Palestinians rather than feathering their own corrupt nest.
Shameful.

 

I will be adding Emirates to my personal boycott list. Hope BDS do too.

 

Looks like Biden and Harris will be continuing the charade of supporting phony 30 year negotiations towards a two state solution while they turn a blind eye to Israel's expansion and apartheid.
Hopefully the voice of progressives in Congress will <deleted> their conscience.

 

In that the PA is now obsolete, all Palestinians need do is stay put and demand equal rights in a single state. 

 

I don't recall you having issues with "unelected dictators" taking up your brand of rhetoric, airing similar positions or engaging in anti-Israeli policies. Further, it's worth reminding that Palestinian leadership(s) are also "unelected dictators", and that ordinary Palestinians do not really have much of a say.

 

Considering that the Palestinians can't even sort their own internal differences, their Cause bogged down, and funds/support afforded by Arab nations are often squandered, it is not clear what is the imperative to ally with the Palestinians no matter what. At least not for a nation not directly involved, and having other regional concerns.

 

As for your off-topic boycott fantasies, do you also boycott Egypt? Jordan? How about all of the other countries having full relations with Israel? That's most of international community, probably including your own country...

 

I don't recall Biden, Harris, or even the Dem Party being supportive of Netanyahu's annexation drive, you're welcome to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Your last line is the usual mix of mantras, not making any more sense or gaining more relevancy with each repetition. If anything, the OP is yet another example of how the Palestinians' predicament worsens the longer they fail to address their own issues, and adapt to a changing reality.

 

 

[Morch]

5 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

Great news, but couldn't have come at a worse time, as it somewhat bolsters the red-headed fool's chances for re-election.

 

And the purple-headed guy's as well, if early elections will indeed be called.

[Morch]

5 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Heralded as  a "Peace " deal but really not at  all. The UAE and Israel have never had any direct military conflict in recent times and have  cooperated in policies in resistance to Iranian influence.

At worst have been diplomatic  squabbles  over an assassination in 2010 which  led  to a  no travel ban (sort of ) by Israelis  to the UAE.

This formalization of Diplomatic involvement will have little effect on the overall issues in the  Middle East but it does temporarily make Netanyahu and Trump appear to be a little  better despite  both being  embroiled in ongoing investigations and public discussions about corruption  etc.

That in almost the same moment Netanyahu announced his intent to continue at a later time the  annexation of Palestinian  territory IMO only confirms this  event is a  small sideshow.

 

Yes, "peace deal" is just hyping the merchandise. More like normalization and establishing of (official) relations. Still a thing, just not as sexy. Unofficially, business relations involving several sectors been rather solid over the years.

 

As for the effect on issues Middle East, hard to tell. If others follow, it may create an interesting dynamic, on more than one issue.

 

If mentioning this as somewhat of a popularity (and possibly elections) boon for Netanyahu, then the same context needs to be applies for his statements. The annexation is more of a thing with right wing voters, or rival right wing politicians who'll surely use this to paint Netanyau as ideologically unreliable and weak. IMO, his words are aimed at his base, nothing more. IF Trump wins the USA elections, it might be revived, though.

[Morch]

4 hours ago, Srikcir said:

This "Peace Deal" is just a consolation prize or diversion from Kushner's failed Palestine-Israel Peace Deal negotiated solely between Kushner and Israel. That might make Trump look weak.

So Trump for his re-election campaign personally comes up with his own "peace deal" between two nations who essentially have no political issues between them.

 

There's that, and as mentioned above, works pretty much the same for Netanyahu. On the other hand, it could be an initial move, testing the waters, with other potential players involved (Oman probably being a prime candidate, if not a major player).

[Puchaiyank]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

It's not an "alliance". It's not even a peace agreement, but establishing formal relations. As for the offered "historical" comment, the OP paints a different picture - "Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.". Both peace agreements are in place, even if relations aren't the warmest.

 

Other Arab nations have already denounced the agreement...Iran will likely try to terminate the upstart infidels in the UAE...

[Morch]

14 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

Other Arab nations have already denounced the agreement...Iran will likely try to terminate the upstart infidels in the UAE...

 

Which other Arab nations?

And even so, such negative reactions to the two previous peace agreements signed (with Egypt and Jordan) did not cause either party to back up, or agreements to fall apart. In the context of Middle East politics, the two agreements remaining in place is even more noteworthy.

 

 

[puipuitom]

8 hours ago, dexterm said:

In that the PA is now obsolete, all Palestinians need do is stay put and demand equal rights in a single state. 

That is what the Palestiniands did for 70 years ( and in fact decades earlier by refusing any compromise) ... Ended up in nothing.

The next: Bahrain / Qatar / Oman / Kuweit... all asking for some steps of the Isreali's,, like relief in "border" controls, free traffic, etc etc.. till maybe.. Israel to accept a kind of Palestinial ID card/passport and at the end the Saudi's to get a two-state solution.

[Dumbastheycome]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

Yes, "peace deal" is just hyping the merchandise. More like normalization and establishing of (official) relations. Still a thing, just not as sexy. Unofficially, business relations involving several sectors been rather solid over the years.

 

As for the effect on issues Middle East, hard to tell. If others follow, it may create an interesting dynamic, on more than one issue.

 

If mentioning this as somewhat of a popularity (and possibly elections) boon for Netanyahu, then the same context needs to be applies for his statements. The annexation is more of a thing with right wing voters, or rival right wing politicians who'll surely use this to paint Netanyau as ideologically unreliable and weak. IMO, his words are aimed at his base, nothing more. IF Trump wins the USA elections, it might be revived, though.

Concur.

[dexterm]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

 

I don't recall you having issues with "unelected dictators" taking up your brand of rhetoric, airing similar positions or engaging in anti-Israeli policies. Further, it's worth reminding that Palestinian leadership(s) are also "unelected dictators", and that ordinary Palestinians do not really have much of a say.

 

Considering that the Palestinians can't even sort their own internal differences, their Cause bogged down, and funds/support afforded by Arab nations are often squandered, it is not clear what is the imperative to ally with the Palestinians no matter what. At least not for a nation not directly involved, and having other regional concerns.

 

As for your off-topic boycott fantasies, do you also boycott Egypt? Jordan? How about all of the other countries having full relations with Israel? That's most of international community, probably including your own country...

 

I don't recall Biden, Harris, or even the Dem Party being supportive of Netanyahu's annexation drive, you're welcome to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Your last line is the usual mix of mantras, not making any more sense or gaining more relevancy with each repetition. If anything, the OP is yet another example of how the Palestinians' predicament worsens the longer they fail to address their own issues, and adapt to a changing reality.

 

 

>>I don't recall Biden, Harris, or even the Dem Party being supportive of Netanyahu's annexation drive, you're welcome to correct me if I'm wrong. 
Just because you can't recall something is your inadequacy, not fact. You can't recall it because I never said it...it's your straw man.

Learn to read more carefully. I wrote:"Looks like Biden and Harris will be continuing the charade of supporting phony 30 year negotiations towards a two state solution while they turn a blind eye to Israel's expansion and apartheid."
You don't need annexation for Israel's expansion and apartheid ...they've been doing that for 53 years plus now. 

4.5 million Palestinians live under a brutal illegal occupation and apartheid, where killings, beatings, humiliation at checkpoints in their own land, settler violence while soldiers look away, home demolitions, ethnic cleansing by stealth take place every day, while world leaders mouth platitudes about a two state solution which they could bring about tomorrow through economic sanctions if they really wanted to. I suspect Biden and Harris will do the same helping Israel dig a deeper hole for itself. Until one day the racist supremacist ideology of Zionism is thrown into the trash can of history.

 

Palestinians just have to stay where they are and keep having babies.

 

The UAE move will not help the peace process. It may help a few corrupt aristocrats stay in power for a while long all at the expense of Palestinian human rights. Disgusting.

 

And if the Palestinians don't have peace, neither do Israelis. Israelis will continue to suffer too, sending their sons and daughters to 3 years of army brutalization and possible death for what..greed for more land.

[dexterm]

46 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

That is what the Palestiniands did for 70 years ( and in fact decades earlier by refusing any compromise) ... Ended up in nothing.

The next: Bahrain / Qatar / Oman / Kuweit... all asking for some steps of the Isreali's,, like relief in "border" controls, free traffic, etc etc.. till maybe.. Israel to accept a kind of Palestinial ID card/passport and at the end the Saudi's to get a two-state solution.

But the Palestinians are still there ain't they, despite all Israel's ethnic cleansing and discriminatory apartheid and immigration laws. And they outnumber Israeli Jews from the Jordan to the Med. It's just a matter of time before the racist Zionist project fails. A minority has never managed to successfully colonize and rule over a majority indigenous population.

Edited August 14, 2020 by dexterm

[Morch]

5 minutes ago, dexterm said:

>>I don't recall Biden, Harris, or even the Dem Party being supportive of Netanyahu's annexation drive, you're welcome to correct me if I'm wrong. 
Just because you can't recall something is your inadequacy, not fact. You can't recall it because I never said it...it's your straw man.

Learn to read more carefully. I wrote:"Looks like Biden and Harris will be continuing the charade of supporting phony 30 year negotiations towards a two state solution while they turn a blind eye to Israel's expansion and apartheid."
You don't need annexation for Israel's expansion and apartheid ...they've been doing that for 53 years plus now. 

4.5 million Palestinians live under a brutal illegal occupation and apartheid, where killings, beatings, humiliation at checkpoints in their own land, settler violence while soldiers look away, home demolitions, ethnic cleansing by stealth take place every day, while world leaders mouth platitudes about a two state solution which they could bring about tomorrow through economic sanctions if they really wanted to. I suspect Biden and Harris will do the same helping Israel dig a deeper hole for itself. Until one day the racist supremacist ideology of Zionism is thrown into the trash can of history.

 

Palestinians just have to stay where they are and keep having babies.

 

The UAE move will not help the peace process. It may help a few corrupt aristocrats stay in power for a while long all at the expense of Palestinian human rights. Disgusting.

 

And if the Palestinians don't have peace, neither do Israelis. Israelis will continue to suffer too, sending their sons and daughters to 3 years of army brutalization and possible death for what..greed for more land.

 

The Israeli occupation is a background fact, by now. The OP's context and focus is on the annexation drive, now apparently stalled. If you want to engage in general diatribes about the evils of the occupation, etc., rather than address either the OP or points made by posters you're replying to, that's your choice.

 

The Palestinians "stayed put" for decades. I fail to see a significant improvement in their situation that is not attributed to negotiations. That you assume this "strategy" will pay off in some distant future, doesn't address what happens between now and then.

 

Still on about "corrupt aristocrats"? Maybe bother knowing how Palestinian leaders fair compared to their people. Had the same "corrupt aristocrats" adopted your views, would the criticism on offer still be on offer?

 

Israelis will not have peace, Palestinians will not have peace. That's true. But not having peace does not pan out the same way for both societies. It seems that for many Israelis, the current situation could be maintained for quite a while without their lives being effected much. Doubt the same could be said about the Palestinians.

 

[Morch]

11 minutes ago, dexterm said:

But the Palestinians are still there ain't they, despite all Israel's ethnic cleansing and discriminatory apartheid and immigration laws. And they outnumber Israeli Jews from the Jordan to the Med. It's just a matter of time before the racist Zionist project fails. A minority has never managed to successfully colonize and rule over a majority indigenous population.

 

Disregarding your usual over the top rhetoric, could you put a more definitive figure on that "just a matter of time" bit? So far it's been decades. Would you consign the Palestinians to the same (and worsening) state of things for decades to come?