Written by: Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
Article source: www.worthynews.com

Writing history, U.S. President Donald Trump presided over a signing ceremony at the White House establishing formal ties between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Bahrain.

Saying it would “change the course of history,” Trump oversaw the inking of agreements that include a peace accord between Israel and the U.A.E. Bahrain also accepted Trump’s invitation to participate in the ceremony, following their U.S.-brokered treaty with Israel last week.

“Today, nations across the region and throughout the world are joining together, united in their determination to build a better future,” the president said. In August, Trump secured an agreement to normalize relations between the U.A.E. and Israel, the first such agreement between Israel and a major Arab nation since 1994.

The countries have committed to the exchange of embassies and ambassadors. They also begin cooperation across a broad range of fields, including education, healthcare, trade, and security, the White House explained. “This deal is only the beginning of normalized relations between Israel and its neighbors, with many more likely to come,” the White House added in a statement seen by Worthy News.

Trump claims the accords are leading to peace between Israel and the Middle East and increased security in the region. Flanked by the flags of all four nations, Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the U.A.E. and Bahraini foreign ministers spoke to an invited crowd seated on the South Lawn.

Special Accords
The accords marked the third and fourth Arab nations to normalize relations with Israel. It is also the first such ceremony since Jordan took the peace step in 1994, following Egypt in 1979. A White House statement attributed the success to Trump’s “foreign policy vision and his acumen as a dealmaker,” ahead of presidential elections in November.

The only European Union foreign minister attending the ceremony came from Hungary, Worthy News learned. Péter Szijjártó arrived at the

ceremony following talks last week between President Trump and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Hungary’s Orbán was among the first European Union leaders to support Trump’s election campaign. The E.U.’s executive European Commission has been reluctant to support Trump’s Middle East policies, including his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.

It recently warned Serbia and neighboring Kosovo that their membership aspirations could be endangered if they move their embassies to Jerusalem.

After talks at the White House this month, Trump said Serbia had already agreed to move its diplomatic mission to Jerusalem. Later, Netanyahu said Kosovo would become the first Muslim-majority state to establish its embassy in Jerusalem.

However, Hungary “continues to support the U.S. in bringing about peace in the Middle East,” Szijjártó said in a statement obtained by Worthy News.

Analysts say the agreements could further isolate Iran while Palestinians view it as a betrayal by Arab nations. But with an increasing number of Arab countries willing to sign up for peace with Israel, Palestinians may face growing pressure to strike a deal with Israel that could lead to a Palestinian state.

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Date published: 19/09/2020
Feature image: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed wave and gesture from the White House balcony on Sept. 15. Alex Brandon/AP/dpa

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