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On August 13th, the United Arab Emirates announced a “historic” deal to normalize relations with Israel.
Reportedly, Tel’Aviv, in return, abandoned its plans to annex the remaining parts of the West Bank.
The announcement was made by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.
During a call with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories. The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship.
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) August 13, 2020
Almost immediately after the announcement, it turned out that Israel’s primary policy of annexing further and further territory isn’t being entirely sidelined, but simply “delayed.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the deal ushers in a “new era” for the Arab world and Israel, but also made clear that he had only agreed to delay annexation and that the plans remained “on the table”, adding that he would “never give up our rights to our land”.
This comes as a surprise to no one.
Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was “a truly historic moment”.
“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates,” he said.
Trump said the leaders of Israel and the United Arab Emirates would sign their historic peace accord in the White House in around three weeks.
“Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economics will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation and forging closer people-to-people relations,” said the statement by Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the deal.
“This is a remarkable achievement for two of the world’s most forward leaning, technologically advanced states, and reflects their shared regional vision of an economically integrated region,” he said in a statement. “It also illustrates their commitment to confronting common threats, as small – but strong – nations.”
He added: “Blessed are the peacemakers. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”
For the Palestinians who have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, the announcement marked both a win and setback. It’s a win because it’s apparently a freezing of annexation plans, but at the same time, if it’s simply temporary, then it means that a typical ally in the face of the UAE has abandoned the cause, in a way.
President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas expressed his “strong rejection and condemnation” of the deal called for an emergency meeting of the Arab League.
In a statement, Abbas called the deal an “aggression” against the Palestinian people and a “betrayal” of their cause, including their claim to Jerusalem as a capital of their future state.
“The Palestinian leadership rejects and denounces the UAE, Israeli and US trilateral, surprising announcement,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a senior adviser to Abbas.
Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s executive committee who has served in various leadership positions in Palestine, said the UAE’s announcement was the equivalent of being “sold out” by “friends”.
May you never experience the agony of having your country stolen; may you never feel the pain of living in captivity under occupation; may you never witness the demolition of your home or murder of your loved ones. May you never be sold out by your "friends." https://t.co/CBaNl1QQqx
— Hanan Ashrawi (@DrHananAshrawi) August 13, 2020
“This agreement does absolutely not serve the Palestinian cause, it rather serves the Zionist narrative. This agreement encourages the occupation [by Israel] to continue its denial of the rights of our Palestinian people, and even to continue its crimes against our people,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement.
“What is required is to support the legitimate struggle of our people against the occupation and not to establish agreements with this occupier, and any annexation we will face by a Palestinian confrontation that is supported by the Arabs and internationally, and not by signing normalisation agreements with them [Israel].”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said hoped the Israel-UAE deal can help realise a two-state solution with the Palestinians for peace in the Middle East.
Guterres said annexation would “effectively close the door” on negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders and “destroy the prospect” of a viable Palestinian state under a two-state solution.
Jordan said that the UAE-Israel deal could push forward stalled peace negotiations if it succeeds in prodding Israel to accept a Palestinian state on land that had been occupied by Israel in 1967.
“If Israel dealt with it as an incentive to end occupation … it will move the region towards a just peace,” Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said in a statement on state media.
Safadi said the agreement must be followed by Israel ending any unilateral moves to annex territory in the occupied West Bank that “obstruct peace prospects and violate Palestinian rights”.
“The region is at a crossroads … continued occupation and denial of the Palestinian peoples’ legitimate rights won’t bring peace or security,” Safadi added.
Right-wing Israelis were expected displeased, since they don’t wish anything to be a setback to the annexation plans.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, a close ally of the UAE, welcomed the agreement.
٢/٢ ..و اتخاذ خطوات من شأنها إحلال السلام في الشرق الأوسط كما أثمن جهود القائمين علي هذا الاتفاق من أجل تحقيق الازدهار و الاستقرار لمنطقتنا.
— Abdelfattah Elsisi (@AlsisiOfficial) August 13, 2020
“I followed with interest and appreciation the joint statement between the United States, United Arab Emirates and Israel to halt the Israeli annexation of Palestinian lands and taking steps to bring peace in the Middle East,” el-Sisi said on Twitter.
“I value the efforts of those in charge of the deal to achieve prosperity and stability for our region.”
Iran strongly condemned the deal.
Iran called it an act of “strategic stupidity” that will only strengthen the Tehran-backed “axis of resistance”.
The Iranian foreign ministry denounced the deal as an act of “strategic stupidity from Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv”.
“The oppressed people of Palestine and all the free nations of the world will never forgive the normalising of relations with the criminal Israeli occupation regime and the complicity in its crimes,” a ministry statement said.
“This is stabbing the Palestinians in the back and will strengthen the regional unity against the Zionist regime.”
Turkey, said history will not forget and never forgive the “hypocritical behaviour” of the United Arab Emirates in agreeing a deal with Israel to normalise relations.
The Palestinian people and administration were right to react strongly against the agreement, the foreign ministry said.
“History and the conscience of the region’s peoples will not forget and never forgive this hypocritical behaviour of the UAE, betraying the Palestinian cause for the sake of its narrow interests,” it said in a statement.
“It is extremely worrying that the UAE should, with a unilateral action, try and do away with the [2002] Arab Peace Plan developed by the Arab League. It is not in the slightest credible that this three-way declaration should be presented as supporting the Palestinian cause.”
France welcomed Israel’s decision to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank under the historic agreement, calling it a “positive step”, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement, adding that the suspension “must become a definitive measure”.
Germany welcomed the “historic” deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.
“The normalization of ties between the two countries “is an important contribution to peace in the region”, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the deal.
“The UAE and Israel’s decision to normalize relations is hugely good news,” he wrote on Twitter.
“It was my profound hope that annexation did not go ahead in the West Bank and today’s agreement to suspend those plans is a welcome step on the road to a more peaceful Middle East,” Johnson continued.
Generally, the decision appears questionable at best, and it is unlikely to lead to any long-term change of policy in Israel, since that’s the country’s premier policy since it was formed.
(“TEMPORARY” FREEZE OF ANNEXATION), Thank you, call it what it is, if Trump wins the elections again…remove the word “temporary”.
True, but why do you think Biden would act differently?
Biden probatly would condem it and send some candy to the socalled Palestinians as compensation. And thats it. The color just has another sound…
I wouldn’t say he would act differently but slowly, and the fact that Israel planning another attack on US elections just prove my point. You don’t have to take my word for it, you know how much Bibi love Trump, Bibi isn’t shying away from saying Trump is gif for them. Ofc they want Trump to win, Biden would join Iran nuclear deal. Which Israel and Wahhabi sunni states are scared of seeing Iran grow. They know they can’t stop Iran but to slow them down…October is coming and China and Russia would happily sell weapons to Iran under Iran nuclear deal. <–If that happens good luck stopping Iran.
You don’t know all that you are claiming, you are just guessing. And the problem is that your guessing is not based on previous experience at all. Support of Israel was always bipartisan policy in US. Doesn’t matter who is in office they always support Israel.
I personally don’t see why Democrats would not have strong pro-Israel policy now also. Because they always did ! I don’t think Bibi “loves” anybody except himself and I think that Jews blackmail Trump with something (probably with J. Epstein island pedophile tapes ) Of course I don’t have any proves for that, just like you for your claims.
How much can Iran really “grow” with such low oil prices and being under the US sanctions? I don’t think that “selling weapons” to Iran has ever stopped. They don’t sell them weapons produced in those countries but they can sell them blueprints and know how how to produce certain weapons. Without anybody being able to stop them.
Wait wait I never said democrats party don’t back Israel bud, you can see most of the democrats in AIPAC. They do but very slowly unlike Trump.
“And the problem is that your guessing is not based on previous experience at all.” I was basing it on Obama, I’m sure Biden follow Obama. Biden said he would join Iran nuclear deal.
“I don’t think Bibi “loves” anybody except himself and I think that Jews blackmail Trump with something (probably with J. Epstein island pedophile tapes ).” Not just that Trump owe a lot to Jews in NYC.
How much can Iran really “grow” with such low oil prices and being under the US sanctions? I was talking about when Iran wasn’t under sanctions because of Iran nuclear deal bud. My point was that Iran can grow much faster the Israel+Wahhabi states.
“I don’t think that “selling weapons” to Iran has ever stopped.” I’m talking about jets/ warship/ tanks (In large amounts) not just weapon as in guns. Nor China or Russia was going to break UN arm embargo on Iran. Why do you think Iran want UN arms embargo on Iran to be lifted after 5 years as part of Iran nuclear deal?
Even if you have the blueprints of “weapons” it would take fuking years for you to make them. (Again I’m not talking about “weapons” as in guns and such, I was talking about warships, tanks, jets.)
“I’m sure Biden follow Obama”
So you are… with not single indication or proof presented whatsoever! Since when vice President must have the same policy as President? Was Lindon Johnson having same policies as JFK etc.?
Biden is white (pedophile) and not false Christian like (gay) Obama was.
Why would he have the same policy as Obama?!
Iran Strange logic you have with Iran. You apparently talk about past and I talk about PRESENT and say that with these oil prices and US sanctions they can not “grow”. And you persist about the growth even though you didn’t bring any argument to support that claim. I am anti Israel but I respect the facts. And facts say that Israel exports many added value high tech products like weapons systems and many other industrial products benefiting from cheap stolen Syria oil. How can sanctioned Iran in this situation “grow” more than they are when Israel on top of all receives BILLIONS from US in weapons and military assistance and has no sanctions and profits from very cheap oil and has developed industry and high tech? “Why do you think Iran want UN arms embargo on Iran to be lifted after 5 years as part of Iran nuclear deal?”
I didn’t say single word about that. You are putting those words into my mouth and setting me up (which is not normal way to communicate) You do not answer my argument, but instead are trying to re-direct conversation in desired direction and develop from there FALSE dialog. I haven’t had a single straight counter argument from you on anything I have said. You just persistently weaseling out any argument-counter argument clear conversation.
Tank Yes tanks can be built based on blueprint and precise transfer of the know how by country like Iran.To mention only most important examples; They have already revers-engineered 4th generation US jets F-5 to produce their own version. They have reverse engineered soviet AA systems like BUK, S-300 (bought from Croatia who bought it from Ukraine long time ago)
If they can revers engineered something as complex as that than they can produce lots of weapons systems based on transfer of know how and blueprints becaues it is easier as process of work.
Are you okay buddy? “Why do you think Iran want UN arms embargo on Iran to be lifted after 5 years as part of Iran nuclear deal?” <—- THAT'S A FUKING QUESTION!!!! No I didn't claim you said anything about it, I try to point out why Iran wants to buy Russia and China weapons.
"I didn't say single word about that. You are putting those words into my mouth and setting me up (which is not normal way to communicate)" Can you understand what is a question???? "which is not normal way to communicate" Okay….the fuk are you on about?
I have read your replies to others, you are one of those guys who thinks they are 5head. I worte a fuking….hmmm NVM I can talk back like you buddy which have no point. You are making pointless claim DID SAID IRAN CAN'T REVERSE ENGINEER???? You are the one putting words into my mouth and so much more.
I'm talking about NEW JETS, TANKS not old shit like the F-5.
No, I don't need to reply to you buddy. You are fuked in head. All you say is "nO pRoOf" "yOu PuTtInG wOrD iN mY mOuTh". I be the bigger man and move on have fun with your other reply bud.cya.
“Why do you think Iran want UN arms embargo on Iran to be lifted “ I have NEVER said that “I think Iran want UN arms embargo lifted” or anything opposite to that and I was NEVER talking about that at all! You are simply putting your words in my mouth and accusing me of something I wasn’t even talking about!
“Are you OK buddy” No I am not I have impression that you are taking me for an idiot and I don’t like it. I know exactly what are you doing and why. You have no counter argument and obviously losing debate so you try to use advantage of your first language – English language to completely twist this “debate” to absurd.
“I try to point out why Iran wants to buy Russia and China weapons.”
WHY did you do that if that was NOT subject of the argument at all?!? I have made my point by making an argument and in normal debate you must proof me wrong (if opposed) with another argument and not by some nonsense “question” that wasn’t the subject of the conversation at all! Who gives fuck if it was “question” or anything else, the point is it was OFF TOPIC ! And you did it simply because you do not have true argument to prove me wrong in my argument. Can you understand that?!
All I wanted to hear is your argument as an answer to my argument and not some banality of the “question” that deliberately moves of the topic and helps you avoid the direct answer, continuation of the debate! We all know that Iran “wants to buy weapons”, so why would you “point out” that BANALITY at all, if it was not subject of our debate at all !
The debate was on Biden, “growth” of Iran and their capabilities to produce weapons through “know how-blueprints” transfer ! That was all I wanted to hear from you ( because you have said I was wrong )
So I wanted to see your argument that explains your position!
“DID SAID IRAN CAN’T REVERSE ENGINEER????
Actually yes you did indirectly claiming exactly that! By claiming that Iran is not capable to produce weapons through transfer of the know how + blueprints. And I have emphasized how advanced Iranians are already in reverse engineering to point out that “transfer of the know how + blue prints” building of the weapons systems is EASIER task than very advanced revers engineering they do today! So you persistently obfuscate and twist my words to present me as some kind of snake oil salesmen, swindler in the argument (and it seams that is exactly what you are yourself)
I’m talking about NEW JETS, TANKS not old shit like the F-5.
They have just recently produced NEW Iranian jet based on reverse engineering of the F-5 ! So my example was about NEW capabilities in the aeronautics (reverse engineering of the new jets and drones from the US jets and drones)
Even if you have the blueprints of “weapons” it would take fuking years for you to make them. (Again I’m not talking about “weapons” as in guns and such, I was talking about warships, tanks, jets.) Wrong again. To produce a tank to the relatively advanced country like Iran based on detailed documentation, blue prints and and transferred complete know how is not such big task as it might seam. Iraq was producing long time ago T-72 tanks (that were of the worse quality than USSR original) but they were producing them all the same. And Iran is today much more advanced in high tech than Iraq 40 years ago.
Oho Oho look at this sly son of a b***h.
Don’t be mad at me watch this; good day 2 u. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MaC8mHEczg
“Temporary Freeze Of Annexation” is just another name for “Annexation”.
All this is pro IsraHell publicist stunt and attempt of US, UAE stooges to make others to accept unacceptable.
The list of countries in favor of the agreement is worth a thousand words.
Good point.
The King Crane Commission report 100 years ago made it clear to anyone inclined to read it that the Jews intended to do exactly what they’ve done. And some of the larger Christian nations to their shame supported these crimes. Not only diplomatically, but with money and weapons. That needs to change.
Palestinians are justified in feeling betrayed by UAE. But they should not discount the UAE just yet. lol Palestinian hopes and aspirations should be grounded in a strong and secure government and not just rely on external factors.
“strong and secure government” for the people and “country” not recognized, raped and ripped in parts that dwindles away under persistent invasion and that lives on handouts and has no real economy whatsoever??! You must be joking.Your comment is the same to Marie Antoinette before French revolution. When asked that people don’t have even bread to eat she have answered; “Let the eat the cake!”
Palestinians can hardly do anything.
Palestine is alarming example of total injustice against the invaded country and people in total global indifference.
There are ways and lots of opportunities. All that is left is the will to do it and protect it. They’ve got to earn and keep their country by themselves
I understand the principal you try to defend (I agree that freedom must be fought for and earned) but I don’t think that Palestine is the best example. Since Israel has such overwhelming power to even subdue U.S. into the position of their stooge and to influence even global opinion (let alone Arab regimes) not to condemn their obvious crimes.
If they have an ounce of blood of their ancestors, then this should just be normal course.
Yeah famous “blood of ancestors”…modern warfare doesn’t give fuck about “blood of ancestors” when the enemy can annihilate you with the press of the button without ever coming in the range to give you a possibility to fight back. So all you do is playing moving target trying to jump from one hideout to another without any of them hideouts being true protection from the incoming missiles. Jewish supremacy is based on the absolute supremacy of their weaponry and on nothing else. Specially not on “blood of ancestors”.
Relax you crying baby Palis, the annexation is canceled. Why do they have to burn and cry all the time? can’t they just once act like normal people and negotiate with us on a peace deal? blaming everyone but themselves, sadly we have to live with them.
What do you think are the chances that the deal will be finalized in 3 weeks?
You mean with the Palis or the UAE? next month Israel will sign the deal with the UAE at the White House, I hope the Palis get back to their senses and sign a peace deal too. We’ve already agreed to Trump’s plan, so it’s a yes from our side.
What do you think are the chances that the UAE will not close due to your government saying that the suspension is temporary?
it is NOT temporary, it is canceled and if you ask me it’s worth it for a peace deal with the UAE. The Palis can also have peace, I know in your sick mind all Jews need to die and bla bla bla, but it’s not up to you to decide ANYTHING in the ME, it’s only up to the people who live here and that means Israelis and Arabs.
Looks temporary to me.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/15542f77481d472c77b513d5aed4f7e688d35c9ea67368690aa956270b28257d.jpg
Don’t believe anything you read on the media.
Some I do, some I don’t. This isn’t some Debka File nonsense, it’s directly from Netanyahu. Gantz hasn’t denied it. And half of the government is against the agreement. The UAE would have to be fools to set themselves up for failure. Which anyone with any knowledge of the conflict can see is going to happen sooner or later.
Just ask the Jordanians or Egyptians what recognising Israel has done for the Palestinians or regional stability.