As soon as the normalization deal was revealed Aug. 13, ministers from the UAE and Israel rushed to open phone lines and unblock internet access, while companies in the two countries announced new pacts. ADADArguably it was President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful effort to secure a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians that indirectly expedited the UAE-Israel accord. The agreement enables the UAE to develop commercial, diplomatic and security ties with Israel while arguing it helped the Palestinians by getting Israel to halt annexation. ADRejecting the UAE’s argument that it helped them out, Palestinian leaders have denounced the normalization plan as a betrayal by an Arab ally. To many Palestinians, the deal gives Israel the benefits of peace without requiring it to pay the price of relinquishing its grip over seized land.

Source: Washington Post August 19, 2020 04:27 UTC