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Israelis Thrilled, Palestinians Furious Over UAE Deal

Linda Gradstein

   JERUSALEM - Israelis have warmly welcomed the announcement of full
   diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while Palestinians
   have angrilydenounced it. The move,firstannounced Thursday in
   Washington, is alsobeing seen asan effort to help
   bothU.S.PresidentDonaldTrump, who is up for reelection in November,and
   Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The Israeli leader faces a corruption
   trial and growing protests calling on him to resign.

   The UAE is the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan,to establish
   ties that will include direct flights and a series of bilateral
   agreements on investment, tourism, healthcare,cultureand other areas.

   "I have always believed we could establish peace with the Arab world,
   and I've been working toward that lofty goal for decades,"Netanyahusaid
   in a TV address. "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 under my leadership,Israel has made advancement in ties
   with Sudan, Oman, Bahrain, and other nations in the Gulf."'¯

   Netanyahualsothanked regionalleaders.
   "I thank Egyptian President al-Sisi, and the governments of Oman and
   Bahrain, for their support of the historic peace treaty between Israel
   and the United Arab Emirates, which is expanding the circle of peace
   and will be good for the entire region."

   Israeli media said that a delegation headed by Mossad chief Yossi
   Cohen, who has been leading the talks with officials in the UAE, will
   travel there next week to finalize the details. President Trump, who
   first announced the diplomatic breakthrough, had said there could be a
   signing ceremony in Washington in "about three weeks."

   ManyIsraelis welcomed the move, withsomeon Facebook saying they would
   liketo visit the UAE.

   "I am so pleased about peace breaking out with the UAE. We Israelis
   need all the treaties we can get," said RenaMegun, who with her
   husband, a rabbi,conduct virtualbar
   mitzvahs('¯www.virtualbarbatmitzvah.com'¯)using Zoom.'¯But she said it
   would not change her negative opinion of President TrumpandBenjamin
   Netanyahu.

   "I do not think that this treaty hasanythingto do with either of the
   men behind it wanting peace for their region," she said. "They could
   care less what happens to the people they serve. I believeit is the
   result of a brainstorming session between the two of them where they
   tried desperately to think of what they could do to boost their
   flagging ratings in their respective countries, with elections looming
   on both continents."

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