Previous NextIsrael’s agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates marks a watershed moment in its relations with Arab countries, but the Palestinians say it puts a just resolution of the Middle East conflict even farther out of reach. It also undermined an Arab consensus that recognition of Israel only come in return for concessions in peace talks — a rare source of leverage for the Palestinians. “I never expected this poison dagger to come from an Arab country,” Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official and veteran negotiator said Friday. But the Middle East conflict was never between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, which have fought no wars and share no borders. Now, in the wake of the UAE agreement, many say that’s out of the question.

Source: The Standard August 14, 2020 14:15 UTC