Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (archive photo)
Photo: Alaa Badarneh / dpaThe Palestinian leadership has sharply criticized the historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After an emergency meeting in Ramallah on Thursday evening, President Mahmoud Abbas’s office said it rejected and condemned the "sudden announcement" by both countries. It was a blow to the Saudi peace initiative and the declarations of the Arab League, as well as aggressive action against the Palestinian people.
In a historic step, Israel and the United Arab Emirates had previously agreed to establish full diplomatic relations. In return, according to the joint statement, Israel is suspending its controversial annexation plans in the occupied West Bank. Up until now, it has been taboo for Arab states to conclude peaceful agreements with Israel before the Palestinian problem is resolved.
The Emirates' agreement with Israel was "a fraud against Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause," the statement said. It means de facto recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinian leadership called for the "shameful declaration" to be withdrawn immediately.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also made it clear in the evening that the annexation plans were not off the table. US President Donald Trump has asked Israel to postpone the plans. As part of Trump's Middle East plan, Israel actually wanted to incorporate up to 30 percent of the West Bank, which it captured in the Six Day War in 1967. However, after strong international criticism, Israel initially held a wait.
"A major breakthrough today," wrote Trump after the decision to establish diplomatic relations on Twitter: "A historic peace agreement between our two good friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates." Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu shared the tweet:
The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Said Al Nahjan, confirmed Trump's statements - also on Twitter. Mohammed bin Said said in a telephone conversation with Trump and Netanyahu an agreement had been reached to stop the further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories. The UAE and Israel agreed on a cooperation and a roadmap for bilateral relations.
American Ambassador to the United Nations: Other countries will follow the Emirates
After the agreement between Israel and the UAE, the American Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft expects that more Arab countries will follow and that Israel will come closer. In time, other states would "see the economic and political advantages that will arise between the United Arab Emirates and Israel," Craft said. The Middle East advisor to US President Trump, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, said when asked whether similar announcements could follow soon: "I think there is a very good chance".
Icon: The mirroroka / dpa
