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UAE formally ends boycott of Israel following US-brokered pact

2020-08-29T12:07:20.690Z


On August 13, Trump announced the historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates as the first step in a peace plan for the Middle East.


By Jon Gambrell - The Associated Press

The ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a decree on Saturday formally ending the country's boycott of Israel. The agreement counted on the mediation of the United States to normalize relations between the two countries.

On August 13, Trump announced the historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates as the first step in a peace plan for the Middle East. The treaty required Israel to stop its controversial plan to annex occupied West Bank lands requested by the Palestinians.

The move, which was formalized on Saturday and has formally ended the boycott, came on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and the leader of the Emirates, according to the state news agency WAM.

The new decree allows Israelis and Israeli companies to do business in the United Arab Emirates , made up of a federation of seven sheikhs on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows the purchase and trade of Israeli products, according to the WAM agency.

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"The decree of the new law is part of the UAE's efforts to expand diplomatic and trade cooperation with Israel," WAM said. It establishes "a roadmap towards the launch of joint cooperation, leading to bilateral relations by stimulating economic growth and promoting technological innovation."

Some Israeli companies had already signed agreements with their Emirati counterparts. But repealing the law expands the possibility of other joint ventures, such as in aviation or in banking and finance.

Dubai International Airport, home to the long-haul airline Emirates, has been the world's busiest for international travel for years. The Dubai International Financial Center is also home to major companies that operate between the Asian and European markets.

Emirati companies are also likely to want access to Israeli technological know-how. Some had already done so even before the deal, with cybersecurity firm DarkMatter allegedly hiring army-trained Israeli hackers.

On Monday, the first direct commercial flight of Israel's flagship airline, El Al, is expected in Abu Dhabi, with US and Israeli officials, including President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

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The decree formally removes a 1972 law. That rule reflected the position widely held by Arab nations at the time that recognition of Israel would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.

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The United Arab Emirates thus becomes the third Arab nation after Egypt and Jordan to have diplomatic relations with Israel. However, while widespread public distrust of Israel persists in those nations, the UAE never fought a war with Israel.

In recent years, the UAE has held constructive talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with a second passport to enter the country for trade and conversation.

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Sheikh Khalifa has ruled the UAE since 2004. He suffered a stroke on January 24, 2014 and underwent emergency surgery. Since then, he has hardly been seen in public , although the state media often publish images of him during Islamic holidays.

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been the regular ruler of the United Arab Emirates since Sheikh Khalifa suffered the spill. Sheikh Mohammed has focused on increasing the Emirates' military might amid his suspicions of Iran, an enmity shared by Israel.

While Sheikh Khalifa holds the title of president, the UAE is ruled by autocratic sheiks . Abu Dhabi, the capital of the oil-rich country, has grown increasingly powerful since the founding of the UAE in 1971 despite the fact that each sheik largely governs his own affairs.

Source: telemundo

All news articles on 2020-08-29

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