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US 'Hopeful' UAE-Israel Accord Will Advance Regional Peace

Nike Ching

   WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday he is
   hopeful the recent agreement between the United Arab Emirates and
   Israel to normalize relations will help advance Middle East peace, amid
   what Washington says is Iran's "malign influence."
   "Excited to arrive in the United Arab Emirates and congratulate the
   Emirati people on the historic Abraham Accords-- the most significant
   step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years. Hopeful we will
   build on this momentum towards regional peace," said Pompeo in a tweet,
   after concluding earlier meetings with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin
   Hamad Al Khalifa and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Manama.

     Excited to arrive in the United Arab Emirates and congratulate the
     Emirati people on the historic Abraham Accords-- the most
     significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years.
     Hopeful we will'¯ build on this momentum towards regional peace.
     [1]pic.twitter.com/WdICQ9V8kN
     -- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) [2]August 26, 2020

   The top U.S. diplomat's travel to the Middle East and Sudan followed a
   U.S.-brokered deal on normalizing relations between Israel and the UAE
   that was announced on August 13.
   Wednesday, a senior State Department official said the U.S. stands
   ready to facilitate a deal between Bahrain and Israel to reach a
   diplomatic normalization.
   "Bahrain is going to make any decision on its bilateral relations with
   other countries in a way that's in the best interests of their own
   people," said the U.S. official, adding Gulf countries now see "many
   good reasons" to "normalize with Israel" after the UAE-Israel deal that
   "can light the path for other countries to follow.
   "If we can help facilitate normalization with Bahrain, we're ready,"
   said the official.
   The U.S. is eyeing deepening its security relationship with UAE, amid
   the Emirates' request to purchase advanced American F-35 warplanes.
   "It makes perfect sense for us to be strengthening UAE's defense
   capabilities at a time when they're under new threats for agreeing to a
   peace with Israel," said a senior U.S. official Tuesday, stopping short
   of saying whether or not such sales have been approved.
   Both Israel and UAE see Iran as an existential threat. Countering this
   threat is seen as driving the decision for Washington and its allies to
   push for normalizing relations with Israel.
   U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that Washington is
   considering selling advanced F-35 warplanes to the UAE over the
   objections of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
   Israel's status as the only Middle Eastern country to acquire the most
   advanced fighter aircraft in America's arsenal currently gives it a
   clear technological advantage over others in the region. But the F-35
   deal is a top priority for the UAE, which saw it as linked to the
   normalization accord with Israel.

References

   1. https://t.co/WdICQ9V8kN
   2. https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1298595095525105665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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