By Brooke Singman | Fox News President Trump on Thursday announced what he called a “Historic Peace Agreement” between Israel and...
By Brooke Singman |
Fox News
President Trump on Thursday announced what he called a
“Historic Peace Agreement” between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, saying
they agreed to “full normalization of relations.”
“HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between
our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted
Thursday morning.
The president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab
Emirates Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed released a joint statement Thursday, after
the three spoke “and agreed to the full normalization of relations between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates.” The statement said that the “diplomatic
breakthrough” was at “the request of President Trump,” and that Israel will
“suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision
for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in
the Arab and Muslim world.”
Israel and the UAE also said they will continue their
efforts to “achieve a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in
the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of
the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to
chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region,” the
statement read. “All three countries face many common challenges and will
mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.”
Delegations from Israel and the UAE are expected to meet in
the coming weeks to “sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism,
direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare,
culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other
areas of mutual benefit.” “Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s
most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by
spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging
closer people-to-people relations,” the statement also read.
Trump on Thursday said he had a call with Israel and the
United Arab Emirates. The president told reporters Israel and the UAE will
“begin cooperation across the board,” along with exchanging embassies and
ambassadors. The president said he expected other countries to follow the UAE’s
lead on this effort to cooperate with Israel going forward.
The president said the action would be known as the “Abraham
Accord,” named for the “father of all three great faiths.”
“No person better symbolizes the potential for unity of
these three great faiths,” U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said from
the Oval Office Thursday.
The president went on to joke that he “wanted to call it the
Donald J. Trump accord,” which received laughs in the room.
“I didn’t do that,” Trump added, again touting the historic
importance of the agreement.
“We are already discussing this with other nations,” Trump
said. “So, you will probably see others of these.”
The president went on to cheer his senior adviser and
son-in-law Jared Kushner for his efforts in securing the agreement.
“The president, like with all things, urged us to take an
untraditional approach,” Kushner said Thursday. “You can’t solve problems that
have gone unsolved the way people have done before you and failed.”
Kushner said the president “tries to unite people focusing
on common interest as opposed to common grievances.”
“We were able to achieve results others could not achieve,”
Kushner said. “This will advance the region and advance the world.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s ambassador to the United States Ron
Dermer tweeted shortly after the agreement was announced saying: “A great day
for peace! Israel commends the courage of MBZ for the historic decision of the
UAE to join Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) in making peace with Israel. Israel
deeply appreciates all. @POTUS Trump has done to make this breakthrough
possible. More to come!”
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