‘New Era’ in Israel’s Relations With Arab World After UAE Peace Deal

 Netanyahu Hails ‘New Era’ in Israel’s Relations With Arab World After UAE Peace Deal

by Benjamin Kerstein

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces a peace agreement between his country and the United Arab Emirates, at his office in Jerusalem, Aug. 13, 2020. Photo: Abir Sultan / Pool via Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the coming of a “new era” in his country’s relations with the Arab world on Thursday, as he officially announced a historic peace agreement between the Jewish state and the United Arab Emirates.

Under the agreement, Israel and the UAE will establish formal diplomatic relations and undertake collaboration in various fields, including fighting the coronavirus, economic progress and tourism.

Israel has agreed to suspend applying sovereignty to areas of the West Bank that it has been discussing annexing, senior White House officials told Reuters.

The deal was the product of lengthy discussions between Israel, the UAE and the United States that accelerated recently, White House officials said.

The agreement was sealed in a phone call on Thursday between US President Donald Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed.

In a press statement on Thursday night, Netanyahu declared, “This is a historic evening. Today marks the beginning of a new era in the State of Israel’s relations with the Arab world.”

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