Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a historic peace agreement this Thursday that involves the “full normalization of relations” between the two Middle Eastern nations.

Under the agreement, Israel agrees to suspend declaring sovereignty over areas of the West Bank, whose annexation was proposed in the plan presented in January, questioned by many international leaders.

The peace agreement came after meetings between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States. It was sealed in a phone call Thursday between Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

Upon being made public, Netanyahu said on Twitter that the agreement is historic.

Abraham Accords

The deal, which is called the Abraham Accords, is the first signed by Israel since the one the country signed with Jordan in 1994. It also gives Trump a foreign policy hit ahead of the next election in November.

White House officials said Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and the Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz, were deeply involved in negotiating the deal, as well as the secretary. of State Mike Pompeo and White House National Security Advisor, Robert O'Brien.

“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region”, a joint statement of the 3 countries underlined.

Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment.

Furthermore, “they will establish reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit”, the statement added.

Suspension of Israeli annexation plans in the West Bank

“As a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world”.

White House official told Reuters that “Israel for the foreseeable future will be focused on building this relationship and pursuing all the advantages that can come from having this new relationship with this country, and we also (believe it) breaks the ice for doing more normalizations and peace agreements with other regional players as well”.

Collaboration in other issues

The agreement also envisions giving Muslims greater access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem by allowing them to fly from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, White House officials said.

The joint statement also stress that the United Arab Emirates and Israel will immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus. Working together, these efforts will help save Muslim, Jewish, and Christian lives throughout the region.