President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates will normalize diplomatic relations, hailing the news as a major breakthrough that will “advance peace in the Middle East.” The deal, while preliminary, represents a rare diplomatic win for Trump ahead of the presidential election in November.
It also represents a rare U.S. victory in the Middle East, where the lines of conflict have barely budged since the 1970s. Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed on Thursday, according to a joint statement issued by the three leaders. “All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic agreement,” the statement read.
“By uniting two of America’s closest and most capable partners in the region, something which said could not be done, this deal is a significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Middle East,” Trump said while announcing the news at the Oval Office. “Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead.”