Historic Deal Between Israel and the United Arab Emirates

“Our vision is one of peace, security, and prosperity—in this region, and in the world. Our goal is a coalition of nations who share the aim of stamping out extremism and providing our children a hopeful future that does honor to God.” President Donald J. Trump

SECURING A HISTORIC AGREEMENT: President Donald J. Trump has secured the first agreement to normalize relations between Israel and a major Arab country in decades.

• President Donald J. Trump has brokered an agreement to normalize relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel – the first such agreement between Israel and a major Arab country since 1994.

• The countries have committed to the exchange of embassies and ambassadors, and to begin cooperation in a broad range of fields including education, healthcare, trade, and security.
• This historic breakthrough is the most significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years.
  • The United Arab Emirates is the first major Arab state to recognize Israel since the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty was signed on October 26, 1994.

SHAPING PEACE THROUGH BOLD LEADERSHIP: President Trump recognized it was time for a new approach to achieve peace, security, and opportunity for the people of the Middle East.

• This historic breakthrough was made possible by President Trump’s leadership and expertise as a dealmaker.
• The President built trust with our regional allies and reoriented their strategic calculus by identifying shared interests and common opportunities, moving them away from perpetuating old conflicts.
• This deal provides a foundation for further advances toward regional peace in the future.
  • The United States believes that more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead and normalize relations with Israel.

BUILDING A MORE PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS REGION: This agreement will help put the region on a truly transformative path: one with stability, security, and opportunity.

• This agreement is a major breakthrough for Muslims throughout the world who wish to come in peace to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, as they will now be able to fly to Tel Aviv through Abu Dhabi to do so and will be welcomed.
  • By encouraging more visits, it will help counter the extremists who use the false narrative that the Al Aqsa Mosque is under attack and that Muslims cannot pray at this holy site.
• Expanded business and financial ties between these two thriving economies will also accelerate growth and economic opportunity across the Middle East.
• This agreement will allow further advancement of the President’s vision for finding a comprehensive, fair, realistic, and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians and in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
 
“Today we usher in a new era of peace between Israel and the Arab world.
 
I just came from an historic virtual conference between myself, President Donald Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates. We announced the establishment of a full and formal peace between Israel and the UAE. It includes the mutual opening of embassies, direct flights and many, many other bilateral agreements.
 
This is the greatest advancement toward peace between Israel and the Arab world in the last 26 years and it marks the third formal peace between Israel and an Arab nation.
 
In 1979, Prime Minister Menachem Begin made peace with Egypt. In 1994, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed a peace treaty with Jordan. And today, I am honored to announce a formal peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates. I believe that there is a good chance that we will soon see more Arab countries join this expanding circle of peace.
 
I want to thank President Trump for his critical help in brokering this historic accord. And I want to thank him for his revolutionary Vision for Peace, which is the most realistic and important formula for peace in the region. President Trump’s Middle East plan served as a basis for today’s historic peace announcement.
 
Israel and the UAE are two of the most advanced countries in the world. 
 
Together, we will transform the region and forge an even better future for our people. This is a future of peace, a future of security and a future of prosperity.
 
I’ve always believed that we could establish peace with the Arab world and I have been working towards that lofty goal for decades. You may not know it, but I’ve been doing it all the time in meetings that are publicized and in many that are not. In Washington, in the Middle East, in daylight and in nighttime. 
 
In recent years, Israel under my leadership has made advancements in ties with such countries as Sudan, Oman, Bahrain and other nations in the Gulf. I have reason to be very optimistic that today’s announcement with the UAE will be followed by more Arab nations joining our region’s circle of peace.
 
And to the people of Abu Dhabi, and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, I say Salaam alaikum. Shalom Aleichem. Peace unto thee. Peace unto all of us.״