The Israeli Arab conflict has existed mostly in the backdrop in the second half of the 20th and 21st century. There have been many attempts of peace in the region including the Camp David Accords, lead by US president Jimmy Carter which lead to the end of the Yom Kippur war. Tensions between Arab nations and the US backed Israel, has held a semi-permanent place in headlines for the last 50 years. Last week it emerged that President Donald Trump had brokered a new diplomatic relationship between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
Both countries have opened a phone link, in what Israel has described as an important step after UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, phoned his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.
Israeli minister for communications Yoaz Handel congratulated the UAE on “removing the blocks” and released a statement saying, “Many economic opportunities will open now, and these trust – building steps are an important step towards advancing states’ interests.”
In addition to phone communications opening up, various news sources from Israel previously blocked online in the UAE, are now accessible. These sources include the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem post and YNet.
This Historic feat presented a foreign policy win for President Donald Trump as he gears up for this year’s Presidential election in November. This new deal has reflected a changing Middle East, where there are shared concerns over Iran’s recent support.
Palestine has said that it puts a just resolution of the Middle East conflict even further out of reach as it undermines an Arab consensus that Israel’s recognition as a state should only be in return for concessions of peace talks between Arab nations and Israel. This newly brokered deal has undermined any leverage for Palestinians.
The UAE isn’t the only Arab nation to have diplomatic ties with Israel though. In fact, the UAE are third in line behind both Egypt and Jordan. Both the UAE and Israel have said in a joint statement that deals in relation to direct travel, tourism and embassies are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to this, according to the UAE news organisation WAM, both an Israeli and UAE company have signed an agreement to research and study the Coronavirus pandemic.
Despite this diplomatic achievement, support for it has been limited, and has sparked anger among various communities, whom see this deal as a betrayal of efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state. To the east, in Pakistan, hundreds rallied on Sunday to denounce the UAE – Israel deal. The Jam mat – e – Islami party chanted anti USA slogans, and burned effigies of President Trump, as well as burn American and Israeli flags. The newly brokered deal has also angered Iran and Turkey – rivals of the UAE. On Sunday, it emerged that the chief of Iran’s armed forces called the deal a “disaster” and urged the UAE to “revise” its decision.
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