Israel’s historic deal with two more Arab states just the beginning, Trump promises
Editors Note: President Donald Trump made history two days ago by turning the peace process on its head! Instead of doing what every President from Bush Sr. to Obama has done—sought to make peace with terrorists in the Palestinian Authority, who really don’t seem to want peace—he and Netanyahu have gone after moderate Arab states, ignoring the Palestinian issue. This was something that most would have said was a deal breaker in the past. But things have changed. Trump won their trust by scraping the lopsided, dangerous Iran Nuclear Deal and replacing harsh sanctions on the Islamic dictatorship. Iran is the enemy of most of these moderate Arab states.
Nations like the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabi, Oman and others are beginning to see that the Palestinians have held peace hostage through their refusal to negotiated in earnest and continue to celebrate terrorism. By going to straight to Israel to normalize relationships, they have increased the pressure on the Palestinians and even Iran, to make peace. I have been critical of President Trump when his behavior demanded it, but this truly Nobel-esque, and He should be considered for the award.
Obama and Biden through all their talk of a “New Beginning” in the Middle East with America, brought us Civil War in Syria, Benghazi, ISIS (which they didn’t take serious), and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (now removed). Under Obama and Biden, the Middle East became far more dangerous. Under Trump, we are seeing peace between mortal enemies.
Palestinians reacted to the historic peace deals by firing rockets at Israel, injuring two in the southern coastal city of Ashdod, underscoring their aversion to peace.
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The biggest news in Israel this week was the signing of a historic peace agreement between Israel and two Gulf states — the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain — at a distinguished ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the event at the White House promising, “there are more nations to follow.”
“We are very far down the road with about five. Frankly we could’ve had them here today…. at least five or six countries are coming through very quickly,” Trump predicted repeatedly in interviews throughout the day.
“You’re going to have peace in the Middle East without being stupid and shooting everybody, and killing everybody, and having blood all over the sand,” he said in a Fox News interview.
Trump even predicted that the Palestinians would eventually “come along” as well.
Trump led Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE’s Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed (ABZ) and Abdullatif Al-Zayani, the foreign minister of Bahrain, onto a balcony overlooking the South Lawn of the White House. These two countries became the third and fourth Arab states to agree to full diplomatic relations with Israel after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
“We’re here this afternoon to change the course of history,” Trump said to the hundreds gathered. “After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East.”
Netanyahu said that the “people of Israel well know the price of war.” He described being wounded in battle himself and losing his brother, Yoni, as well.
“And this is why I am so deeply moved to be here today. For those who bear the wounds of war cherish the blessings of peace,” he said. “And the blessings of the peace we make today will be enormous.”
The agreement between the UAE and Israel is a full peace treaty while the Bahrain-Israel agreement is a “Declaration of Peace,” a commitment to establish full diplomatic relations. In the coming weeks, the parties will begin planning to establish embassies in each country and opening avenues of travel and commerce.
Rather than focusing on bartering for compromises between Israel and the Palestinians, Trump took a new approach to Middle East peace. He started withholding money from the Palestinian Authority after they refused to negotiate. Then he persuaded the UAE and Bahrain — which both continue to reiterate their support of the Palestinians — not to let that keep them from normalizing relations with Israel.
The ceremony itself was punctured by red alert sirens in southern Israel warning of coming rockets fired by Palestinians in Gaza in response to the peace agreement. One rocket landed in Ashdod, injuring two people and destroying property.
“I am not surprised that Palestinian terrorists fired at Israel exactly during this historic ceremony,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “They want to set back peace. They won’t succeed in doing so.”
The Palestinians have rejected the normalization deals between Israel and the UEA and Bahrain.