SAN DIEGO — Via Twittter U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, Aug. 13, that a third Arab country, the United Arab Emirates, has agreed to a formal peace with Israel, following the lead of Egypt and Jordan, which respectively normalized relations with Israel in 1979 and 1994.
The Tweet included a joint statement with Trump from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates.
That announcement said delegates from Israel and the UAE will 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”
Further, according to the joint announcement, “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 innovations, and forging closer people-to-people relations.”
The announcement said “at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the Presidents Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world. The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal.”
Following the Tweet up at a news conference, President Trump said the agreement between Israel and the UAE would be known as the “Abraham Accord” named for “the father of all three great faiths.”
He hinted that other Muslim nations may follow suit.
White House senior advisor Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law, was credited by Trump for his efforts in helping to bring abut the deal.
Kushner said Trump “tries to unite people focusing on common interest as opposed to common grievances. We were able to achieve results others could not achieve. This will advance the region and advance the world.”
U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo, in a news release, called the agreement “an historic day and a significant step forward for peace in the Middle East.”
He added:
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. It also illustrates their commitment to confronting common threats, as small — but strong — nations.
The United States hopes that this brave step will be the first in a series of agreements that ends 72 years of hostilities in the region. Although the peace treaties between Israel and Egypt and Jordan have not yet fulfilled their full potential, since the 1978 Camp David Accords and the 1994 Wadi Arava Agreement, we have witnessed significant economic development in Egypt and Jordan, an unmistakable dividend of peace.
Today’s normalization agreement between Israel and the Emirates holds similar potential and the promise for a better day for the entire region. The United States congratulates Israel and the Emirates for their important achievement. Blessed are the peacemakers. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.
Jewish organizations were quick to register their reaction to the news. In alphabetical order, they include:
Americans for Peace Now: “Americans for Peace Now (APN) welcomes the news of the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize relations between the two countries. While the two countries have unofficially been normalizing relations in recent years, an official normalization could be an important development on the path to future comprehensive peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
“APN hopes that the governments of Israel, the United States, the UAE, the Palestinians, and other Arab states will leverage this development toward a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, leading to two, sovereign, viable, independent states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains the crux of the Arab-Israeli dispute, and only by resolving it will Israel be able to achieve long term peace, security, and wellbeing.
“APN also welcomes news that as part of the deal reached between Israel and the UAE, the disastrous initiative to annex parts of the West Bank, pushed jointly by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the Trump administration, would be halted.
“APN’s President and CEO Hadar Susskind said: “While this news is welcome, much better news would be an end to the Israeli government’s de-facto annexation of the West Bank through ongoing settlement expansion, and steps to reverse Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.”
American Jewish Congress: “The American Jewish Congress celebrates the announcement of the Abraham Accord, a historic agreement brokered by the United States between Israel and the United Arab Emirates for full normalization of relations between the two countries.
“We congratulate President Donald J. Trump, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed for this monumental step towards peace. We salute the American, Israeli, and Emirati diplomats involved, and particularly Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer and UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, that succeeded in materializing this agreement.
“The American Jewish Congress has engaged with Arab leaders for decades, trying to promote a culture of cooperation and helping facilitate constructive dialogue. We have always believed that there is only one way to bring positive change to the Middle East – through dialogue and diplomacy. We look forward to the next steps towards the full establishment of bilateral relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The road to peace is delicate and needs determined leadership and vision. Fostering a climate of collaboration is not easy and requires difficult decisions. However, as we always say, peace is worth all the efforts.
“We are witnessing an epochal change of attitudes. It is our hope that this will open a new chapter of peace and prosperity in the Middle East and pave the way for further agreements and developments towards long-term peace.”
Anti-Defamation League: “ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) applauded the Governments of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States for today’s historic announcement agreeing to work towards fully normalizing relations and announcing plans for cooperation across numerous civil fields between Israel and the Emirates. ADL also welcomed the announcement that Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over territory in the West Bank, which we hope will help sustain the feasibility of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I commend Israeli and Emirati leaders for being willing to buck the hardliners today to make real concessions toward Arab-Israeli peace,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the ADL. “This is a reminder of the positive role that the US uniquely can play on the global stage, helping to broker historic agreements and advance the cause of peace around the world.”
“I am particularly excited about the potential cooperation enabled by this agreement, including a stepped-up joint effort against the COVID-19 pandemic that can benefit the region and the world,” Greenblatt said. “I also hope this important agreement will serve to encourage other Arab and Muslim countries as well as the Palestinians to extend their hand in peace to the Jewish State. Finally, this agreement constitutes a crucial contribution to fight against extremism in the region and a breakthrough following years of unofficial consultations between the two countries.”
ADL has long been engaged in discussions with Abu Dhabi to encourage fair treatment of Israel and Israeli nationals by the UAE, including in public events and the press. In May 2019, ADL co-hosted an event in Washington with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates to recognize the UAE Government’s support for interfaith coexistence, and senior ADL staff visited Abu Dhabi in December to sign onto the Charter of the Alliance of Virtue supporting peace, tolerance and solidarity between Jews, Muslims, Christians, and all peoples.
Hadassah: “Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, Inc. National President Rhoda Smolow and CEO/Executive Director Janice Weinman released the following joint statement today following the announcement by the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the normalization of relations between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi. Hadassah applauds the courageous and historic decision announced today that Israel and the UAE will enjoy full normalized relations with each other. This is a positive and welcomed development, one that we hope will lead to peace between Israel and all of its neighbors in the region. At Hadassah’s hospitals in Jerusalem, patients are cared for equally no matter who they are or where they are from. We are proud to serve all people as a place of peaceful coexistence, but we look forward to the day when peaceful coexistence is the norm throughout the Middle East. Israel’s right to exist is unquestionable, and its well-documented efforts over the course of 72 years to live in peace with its neighbors is beyond reproach. We celebrate the decision by leaders of both nations and pray that it is a turning point in the pursuit of broader peace.”
Im Tirtzu: “Like all citizens of Israel, we desire peace and welcome this agreement. This is a historic and important milestone for the State of Israel, and we congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu on this achievement.
“At the same time, we call on the Prime Minister not to give up on applying sovereignty over Judea & Samaria and the Jordan Valley. It is our historic right and now is the time to implement it.
“In addition, just like this agreement negated the misguided “land for peace” notion championed by the architects of the Oslo Accords, so too we need to negate the misguided ‘we can’t have peace if we upset the status quo on the Temple Mount’ notion and allow for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount. ‘”
Jewish Federations of North America: Regarding the announcement that Israel and the United Arad Emirates agreed to full normalization of relations, The Jewish Federations of North America said the following: “We welcome the news about Israel and the United Arab Emirates normalizing relations,” said Mark Wilf, chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America. “The two countries have so much to gain from working together and this decision could pave the way for greater recognition of Israel throughout the region and increase the prospects of peace.”
Orthodox Union: “ Today, the leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (“Orthodox Union”)—the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization—issued the following statement in the wake of President Trump’s announcement of an agreement between the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates to establish “full normalization of relations. Today at the White House, President Trump announced an agreement between leaders of the State of Israel and the United Arab Emirates for the full normalization of relations between these two countries. The leadership of the Orthodox Union welcomes this historic announcement. The long overdue normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states is important not only for the security and stability of Israel, but for the people of the Mideast region at large. Today’s announcement is a significant step toward isolating regimes and forces of extremism in the region. The Orthodox Union appreciates the determined leadership exerted by President Trump and his key aides—including Secretary Pompeo, Secretary Mnuchin, Ambassador Friedman, and the Hons. Jared Kushner, Robert O’Brien, Brian Hook, Avi Berkowitz and other officials—to forge and facilitate this historic agreement.”
From outside the Jewish community, there were these reactions:
American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) — “The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is extremely outraged by today’s announcement of normalized relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. This agreement comes with little surprise as the world is mostly silent about the suffering and oppression faced by Palestinian people. We want to make our stance clear – any negotiations or agreements between Palestine and Israel must be based on relevant U.N. Resolutions and International Laws. Today’s actions circumvent Palestinian efforts towards true self-determination, freedom, and an end to the Israeli occupation. This agreement does not take into consideration the demands of the Palestinian people and ignores U.N. Resolutions and International Laws that have deemed Israeli settlements illegal. As a civil rights organization, our commitment is to justice and freedom first and foremost. ADC will continue to support Palestinians and defend their right to self-determination and freedom from occupation. Today’s agreement does not address the many human rights violations of the Israeli occupation and further normalizes an apartheid state. Netanyahu’s false promise of suspended expansion efforts have not been negotiated with Palestinians and thus will be ineffective on the ground. The Trump administrations celebration of this agreement reflects his known contempt for pro-Palestinian activists and organizations, and we fear that he will use this to further silence criticism of Israel. ADC rejects Trumps claims that Arabs must accept normalization with Israel in order for Middle East peace to advance. We see this as a racist and baseless statement. Israeli home demolitions, land confiscation, settlement expansion and annexation of Arab land is what stands in the way of normalization. This agreement only gives cover for Israel to quietly further its intended settlement expansionist policies. While Netanyahu is giving up actual annexation, he is continuing de facto annexation by destroying Palestinian homes, displacing countless more families, and stealing more land. This means today’s promise of halting annexation is empty and invalid. Instead, this is a political move for Netanyahu and a way for him to save face in front of the international community. This will not end the occupations disastrous effects and only gives Israel the legitimacy to further erase Palestinians and Palestine under what now looks like a peaceful and diplomatic agreement. Make no mistake this agreement is not peaceful nor diplomatic. ADC strongly stands against the normalization of racism, injustice, and apartheid of any oppressed people. We will continue advocating for Palestinian rights and raising awareness on the ongoing human rights violations committed by the Israeli occupation.”
Christians United for Israel (CUFI): On Thursday, Christians United for Israel (CUFI), the nation’s largest pro-Israel organization, welcomed the announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would be normalizing ties. “This is an historic announcement. We consistently pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and today those prayers were answered in a big way. In the context of the discussion about extending Israeli sovereignty to portions of Judea and Samaria, we made clear in late June that this is precisely what the Gulf states should do, and we hope other Arab nations will follow the UAE’s lead. CUFI backs the decisions of the democratically elected Government of Israel, including the decision to suspend sovereignty extension plans in this context,” said CUFI founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee.“This proves yet again that when Israel’s Arab neighbors are prepared to make peace with the Jewish state, Israel will always be there to meet them,” Hagee added. Directly before CUFI’s 2020 Washington Summit, Hagee gave an interview to The Jerusalem Post in which he noted, “The Gulf states, who are claiming that Israeli ‘annexation’ would lead to an end to their not-so-secret relations with Israel, ought to put their requests in a positive light. Rather than threaten to walk away, they should publicly and formally offer normalization of ties between the broader Arab world and Israel if Israel gives the Palestinians a set period of time to return to the negotiating table in good faith. Israel is always willing to make peace, and our elected officials in Congress should bear that in mind as they consider policies that impact the US-Israel relationship. It is our fervent hope that this historic announcement will pave the way for other countries who should have no quarrel with Israel to normalize ties with the Jewish state,” said CUFI Action Fund Chairwoman Sandra Parker.
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Donald H. Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
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