Israel and UAE announce normalisation of relations. Bahrain follows suit, as does Sudan.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Today a major development has occurred in the middle east, with the UAE becoming only the third Arab state to normalise relations with Israel and recognise it, the last being Jordan all the way back in 1994. This is a significant foreign policy victory for the Trump administration in the US which was heavily involved in the process, as well as Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Israel, and a major step towards peace in the middle east.
The normalisation of relations will include mutual civilians flights, opening embassies and co-operation in all fields ranging from cultural to technological and medical. Reportedly in return Israel will cancel its plans to annex parts of Judea and Samaria ("west bank"), which may explain why despite Netanyahu's promises to start the annexation in July nothing had actually happened.
Additionally, the 3 countries (USA, Israel, UAE) plan to launch a mutual "strategic agenda for the middle east".

Could this be the start of a larger move towards normalisation between Israel and the Arab world?
EDIT: Apparently yes! Not even a month later and Bahrain followed suit and also normalised relations with Israel!
EDIT 2: And [url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israel-sudan-agree-on-steps-toward-normalization-of-ties-646722]Sudan[/url]!

[Sir Adrian]

This is fantastic news. Hopefully this is the start of domino of peace agreements.

This is more than the previous 3 presidents efforts combined.

[swabian]

Really awesome!

I accredit it to Natanyahu, clearly. The only thing the obnoxious orange can do right is to stfu and stay way from the actions of adults.

[Sir Adrian]

Trump set up the whole thing and mediated the talks. If he can get a couple more peace agreements in the region he should get the nobel prize.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Really awesome!

I accredit it to Natanyahu, clearly. The only thing the obnoxious orange can do right is to stfu and stay way from the actions of adults.

It's likely that it was indeed mostly Netanyahu's doing (after all as recently as last year he succeeded in getting Chad to recognise Israel), but to say that the Trump administration (even if not him personally) played no part is, in my opinion, false. If nothing else the Trump peace plan provided the opportunity for Netanyahu to announce annexation, thus creating the incentive for this deal with the UAE.

[swabian]

It's likely that it was indeed mostly Netanyahu's doing (after all as recently as last year he succeeded in getting Chad to recognise Israel), but to say that the Trump administration (even if not him personally) played no part is, in my opinion, false. If nothing else the Trump peace plan provided the opportunity for Netanyahu to announce annexation, thus creating the incentive for this deal with the UAE.

Yes, the instant the US displays weakness in leadership, Netanyahu steps in, takes over and gets stuff done. Nobel peace prize for the US administration? Pfffff.

[irontaino]

I think his comment was more in reference to Trump personally. As we've seen these past years, negotiating is clearly not his forté. Probably let people in his administration who actually know what they're doing take the lead.

[Sir Adrian]

That's what any competent leader should do.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Yes, the instant the US displays weakness in leadership, Netanyahu steps in, takes over and gets stuff done. Nobel peace prize for the US administration? Pfffff.

How is this weakness in leadership? It is a direct result of the Trump peace plan.

[irontaino]

That's what any competent leader should do.

Forgetting this is Trump and competent leadership is not really his thing. That's why something like that is so surprising for this administration. Not a fan of Netanyahu, but this is a good thing for both Israel and the UAE.

[swabian]

The US simply took their foot off and ceded control to Israel. I would like to say "this should have been done all along" but this was unique opportunity. Let's hope this lasts and accomplishes something. If this works out, i will not thank the UAE or the US-administration.

[Cyclops]

...Could this be the start of a larger move towards normalisation between Israel and the Arab world?

I hope so, this is bloody fantastic, Israel has been treated like crap for way too long. Sensible move by UAE which has done some dirty deeds recently, maybe they are turning the corner.

Hard to believe Trump was involved but if he was full marks on a very positive development.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

Meanwhile the deal was condemned by the usual suspects: Iran and.. Turkey, who called it a "stab in the back of the palestinians" and said that history will not forgive the UAE this. I wonder if Erdogan even realises that Turkey recognises Israel.

[PointOfViewGun]

This merely creates more problems in the long run as its an artificial normalization. Basically UAE was bought to be nice with Israel.

[nhytgbvfeco2]

This merely creates more problems in the long run as its an artificial normalization. Basically UAE was bought to be nice with Israel.

Peace is a problem? That's a new one.

[Infidel144]

I wonder if Erdogan even realises that Turkey recognises Israel.

That can be fixed.

This merely creates more problems in the long run as its an artificial normalization. Basically UAE was bought to be nice with Israel.

What problems does it create? What was the price paid to the UAE?

[Vanoi]

Meanwhile the deal was condemned by the usual suspects: Iran and.. Turkey, who called it a "stab in the back of the palestinians" and said that history will not forgive the UAE this. I wonder if Erdogan even realises that Turkey recognises Israel.

This right here. UAE and Israel didn't just normalize relations for the sake of it. Israel needs friends when confronting Iran and the UAE is a good choice for that. This helps with Turkey as well as Israel and Turkey aren't on the best of terms.

Only a matter of time before other Arab nations like the Saudis recognize Israel too. This still mostly has to do with Iran though.

[sumskilz]

Basically UAE was bought to be nice with Israel.

Actually, it's the UAE who have been pouring $millions into Gaza via Israel in order to buy calm. The UAE's relations with Israel have been in the open for years.

Miri Regev, Israel's cultural minister, at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on an official state visit to Abu Dhabi back in 2018:

This right here. UAE and Israel didn't just normalize relations for the sake of it. Israel needs friends when confronting Iran and the UAE is a good choice for that. This helps with Turkey as well as Israel and Turkey aren't on the best of terms.

Only a matter of time before other Arab nations like the Saudis recognize Israel too. This still mostly has to do with Iran though.

That's a major factor at least, but it has wider implications, for example: Libya's Haftar 'provided with Israeli military aid following UAE-mediated meetings with Mossad agents'

[Morticia Iunia Bruti]

The king who is situated anywhere immediately on the circumference of the conqueror's territory is termed the enemy.
The king who is likewise situated close to the enemy, but separated from the conqueror only by the enemy, is termed the friend (of the conqueror).

— Kautilya, Arthasastra

Its realpolitics, as UAE and Israel have a common enemy (Iran), not really surprising, as the Gulf States really don't care for Palestinians anymore, this train has left the station with the palaestinian support of Saddam in 1991.

[Vanoi]

Actually, it's the UAE who have been pouring $millions into Gaza via Israel in order to buy calm. The UAE's relations with Israel have been in the open for years.

Miri Regev, Israel's cultural minister, at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on an official state visit to Abu Dhabi back in 2018:



That's a major factor at least, but it has wider implications, for example: Libya's Haftar 'provided with Israeli military aid following UAE-mediated meetings with Mossad agents'

I was just thinking about Libya and if Israel would support Haftar. Some support it seems. Not too surprised those. Israel's no fan of Turkey or the MB.