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The surprising idea that led to the cancellation of the annexation: Behind the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates - Walla! news

2020-08-13T18:51:58.946Z


Contacts began more than a year ago, but progress has been made as the annexation deadline approaches. A White House official said Netanyahu told Trump's envoy shortly before July 1 that he would be ready for normalization in exchange for a freeze on sovereignty. In recent weeks, the initiative has gained momentum, and closed with a tripartite call


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The surprising idea that led to the abolition of annexation: behind the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates

Contacts began more than a year ago, but progress has been made as the annexation deadline approaches. A White House official said Netanyahu told Trump's envoy shortly before July 1 that he would be ready for normalization in exchange for a freeze on sovereignty. In recent weeks, the initiative has gained momentum, and closed with a tripartite call

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  • United Arab Emirates
  • Donald Trump
  • Benjamin Netanyahu

Lightning Ravid

Thursday, 13 August 2020, 21:38

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      In the video: US President Donald Trump announces normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (Walla! NEWS)

      The White House peacekeeping force, led by Jared Kushner, senior adviser to President Donald Trump, has been in talks with Israel and the United Arab Emirates over the possibility of normalization for more than a year now, but the significant breakthrough came about two months ago. The progress comes against the background of the approaching date of July 1, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he intends to begin and promote annexation measures in the West Bank - Walla was told! NEWS White House officials.

      "We've been talking about it for over a year but the issue of annexation has created the atmosphere where a deal has become more achievable," a White House official said. According to him, the issue of annexation was postponed until further notice and no time was set for suspending the issue.

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      "We've been talking about it for over a year." Ambassador Friedman, Netanyahu, Trump and Kushner (Photo: AP)

      In the weeks leading up to July 1, the UAE came out strongly against annexation - both in public and in quiet talks with the White House. The most notable move was an article by the United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Washington, Yusuf al-Utayba, in the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, in which he wrote that Israel would have to choose between annexation and normalization.

      At the end of June, al-Utayba turned to Kushner and the American envoy Avi Berkowitz and offered them an idea - the United Arab Emirates would agree to promote normalization with Israel in exchange for an Israeli announcement to remove the idea of ​​annexation from the agenda. A White House official said Kushner liked the idea and instructed Berkowitz and the rest of the U.S. peacekeeping force to start working on it.

      On June 27, Berkowitz arrived in Israel and met with Netanyahu three times in three days to discuss the issue of annexation. At the meetings, Berkowitz presented a series of reservations regarding the annexation, including a demand from Israel to take measures against the Palestinians, such as the transfer of 10% -5% of Area C in the West Bank to Palestinian control. Sources involved in the contents of the talks stated that Netanyahu did not like the demand at all and even reacted angrily to it.

      At the same time, Berkowitz heard from Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in his meetings with them that they oppose annexation now and believe that the focus should be on treating Corona. The position of the two further reduced the appetite in the White House regarding an annexation move in light of the understanding that the Israeli leadership is divided on the issue.

      More on Walla! NEWS

      United Arab Emirates, the rising Arab power

      To the full article

      Presented a series of reservations regarding the annexation. Berkowitz with Kushner (Photo: Gettyimages)

      A senior White House official said that during one of the meetings in Israel during the same visit, Berkowitz introduced Netanyahu to the idea of ​​promoting normalization with the United Arab Emirates in exchange for removing the annexation from the agenda. Netanyahu did not outright reject the idea, responded positively and said he would be willing to test whether it was a serious move.

      In the seven weeks since Berkowitz's visit, the initiative has gained momentum. Kushner spoke on the phone several times with Netanyahu and with Abu Dhabi's heir and the acting ruler of the United Arab Emirates, Muhammad bin Zayed. In addition, Kushner and Berkowitz held dozens of meetings with Israeli Ambassador Ron Drummer and with Embassy Emirates al-Utayba to summarize the details.

      An agreement has been reached in recent days. Defense Minister Bnei Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi were also updated. Last night, the triple phone call between Trump, Netanyahu and Muhammad Ben-Zayed was scheduled for today. President Trump described the conversation in pictorial language: "The conversation was like love," he said. A White House official has indicated that President Trump is now planning to hold a celebratory signing ceremony on the White House lawn. Netanyahu and one of the United Arab Emirates' senior officials are expected to attend the ceremony.

      It now remains to implement the statement and turn it into steps on the ground. Netanyahu has already spoken with Ashkenazi and asked him for the Foreign Ministry to lead the talks with the United Arab Emirates on the various agreements that will be signed and especially on the establishment of embassies.

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        Source: walla

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