08-13-2020, 10:52 AM
** 13-Aug-2020 World View: Israel and UAE reach peace agreement
US President Donald Trump has mediated a peace agreement between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being described as
"historic," since the agreement will lead to normalization of
diplomatic relations between the two countries, for the first time.
They will exchange embassies and ambassadors, and cooperate in
numerous commercial areas.
According to Trump, both parties were anxious to reach this agreement,
because Israel and UAE are united in their opposition to Iran. Trump
said that the agreement only became possible because the
administration backed out of the Iran nuclear deal, and then Trump
developed personal relations of friendship with several Arab nations,
including Saudi Arabia.
As part of the agreement, Israel will abandon plans to annex a portion
of the West Bank occupied by Israeli settlers. The settler community
will be angered by the agreement.
Trump is claiming that this agreement is an important step on the path
to Mideast peace. This is political fantasy. The Palestinians are
not part of this deal, and they will not be in favor of it. In fact,
the BBC has just quoted a Palestinian official as scoffing at the
deal.
Another country that won't be happy will be Qatar. Qatar is still
under an air, sea and ground blockade by Sunni Arabia and UAE. The
blockade began in 2016, and attempts at mediation by Trump have
failed. However, the US has a large military naval base in Qatar, so
that relationship is important.
More to come ....
-- Israel and UAE reach historic peace deal, Israel to suspen
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/isra...eal-638524
(Reuters, 13-Aug-2020)
US President Donald Trump has mediated a peace agreement between
Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being described as
"historic," since the agreement will lead to normalization of
diplomatic relations between the two countries, for the first time.
They will exchange embassies and ambassadors, and cooperate in
numerous commercial areas.
According to Trump, both parties were anxious to reach this agreement,
because Israel and UAE are united in their opposition to Iran. Trump
said that the agreement only became possible because the
administration backed out of the Iran nuclear deal, and then Trump
developed personal relations of friendship with several Arab nations,
including Saudi Arabia.
As part of the agreement, Israel will abandon plans to annex a portion
of the West Bank occupied by Israeli settlers. The settler community
will be angered by the agreement.
Trump is claiming that this agreement is an important step on the path
to Mideast peace. This is political fantasy. The Palestinians are
not part of this deal, and they will not be in favor of it. In fact,
the BBC has just quoted a Palestinian official as scoffing at the
deal.
Another country that won't be happy will be Qatar. Qatar is still
under an air, sea and ground blockade by Sunni Arabia and UAE. The
blockade began in 2016, and attempts at mediation by Trump have
failed. However, the US has a large military naval base in Qatar, so
that relationship is important.
More to come ....
-- Israel and UAE reach historic peace deal, Israel to suspen
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/isra...eal-638524
(Reuters, 13-Aug-2020)
