In a major global move on Thursday, the United Arab Emirates and Israel have entered into a peace agreement, with the support of the United States. The UAE is the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to be on such terms with Israel.
In a statement from the White House, it said the two countries agreed to “the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.” An Israeli delegation will head to the UAE to further discuss the agreement and is set to discuss collaborative opportunities such as direct flights, embassies, tourism, and other. The fresh ties are also expected to bring in upwards of $300 million in investments and trade, opening a new channel of economic opportunity between the two lands.
While Israel continues to experience political upheaval, daily protests, and an outspoken movement of citizens in distress, the news does bring a shift in fundamental views about peace in the Middle East. In an opinion piece written by Michael Oren, former Israel Ambassador in the United States, he says, “It proves that, in order to achieve peace with a powerful Arab state, Israel does not have to uproot a single settlement or withdraw from a meter of land. It opens the way to alternative approaches to addressing the dispute, one that is not dependent on Israelis and Palestinians offering concessions that neither can ever make.”
