Israel Establishes Ties With UAE, Bahrain in Trump-Brokered Deal

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed landmark agreements on Tuesday to move toward establishing normal relations with Israel, setting in motion a potentially historic shift in Mideast politics at a White House ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump.

The accords were sealed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and foreign ministers from the two Gulf Arab states. The agreements make UAE and Bahrain just the third and fourth Mideast nations to formally recognize Israel, joining Egypt and Jordan.

“After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East,” Trump said at a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House attended by hundreds of guests including the former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and the president’s former United Nations ambassador, Nikki Haley.

“Thanks to the great courage of the leaders of these three countries, we take a major stride toward a future in which people of all faiths and backgrounds live together in peace and prosperity,” Trump said.
He said the three countries would exchange embassies and “work together so strongly as partners to cooperate across the broad range of sectors,” including tourism, trade, health care and security.

The president and his allies have touted the agreements as evidence of Trump’s deal-making credentials as they seek to burnish his resume with less than 60 days before Election Day. White House officials have expressed hopethat more countries in the region will follow, which they believe would put pressure on the Palestinians as well as Iran, a regional rival to both Israel and Sunni Arab states.

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