(AP-New York Times) The UAE presented its decision to upgrade longstanding ties to Israel as a way of encouraging peace efforts. But from the Palestinian perspective, it undermined an Arab consensus that recognition of Israel only come in return for concessions. "I never expected this poison dagger to come from an Arab country," Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official, said Friday. The Palestinian Authority called the move a "betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause," language clearly aimed at inflaming Arab and Muslim sentiment. But the Middle East conflict was never between Israel and the UAE, which have fought no wars and share no borders. Egypt, Bahrain and Oman welcomed the agreement, while Germany, France, Italy, China and India expressed hope it would help revive the peace process.
2020-08-17 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive