Normalizing ties with Israel is “a historic diplomatic breakthrough” and a sign that peace in the Middle East is possible, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan writes in an opinion piece for the Wall Street Journal ahead of the signing ceremony of the Israel-UAE deal.
In the article, published early on Tuesday, Sheikh Abdullah says that the US-brokered agreement is a sign that “Emiratis and Israelis, and all the people of the Middle East, are tired of conflict.”
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The foreign minister arrived in Washington on Sunday ahead of the ceremony set to take place on Tuesday night.
“The first and most urgent priority is to de-escalate tensions and begin a regional dialogue on peace and security,” Sheikh Nahyan said about the deal.
The historic #UAEIsrael #PeaceAccord has received broad bipartisan backing and widespread support from the international community.
— UAE Embassy US (@UAEEmbassyUS) September 13, 2020
https://t.co/dFr5DLyYbd pic.twitter.com/CswsXLcbM9
The UAE’s foreign minister urged the Palestinian leadership to take the agreement as an opportunity to reengage in productive talks, adding that the “pace and scope of normalization won’t be disconnected from progress on Palestinian statehood and rights.”
Bahrain is also set to join the UAE in becoming the latest Arab states to sign agreements normalizing relations with Israel.
The deal protects Bahrain’s interests and strengthens its strategic partnership with the US amid escalating regional threats from Iran, Bahraini interior minister Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa said in a statement on Monday.
US President Donald Trump will host the event, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE’s Sheikh Abdullah, and Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif al-Zayani will be present.
The UAE was the first Gulf country, and the third in the Arab world, to normalize ties with Israel, and Bahrain announced shortly after it would follow the UAE’s lead.
Read more:
UAE, Bahrain set to normalize ties with Israel at historic White House event
Normalizing ties with Israel strengthens Bahrain-US partnership: Minister
FM Abdullah bin Zayed arrives in Washington to sign US-brokered UAE-Israel peace deal
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