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Israel-UAE Deal Shows How the Notion of Middle East Peace Has Shifted
(Washington Post) Anne Gearan and Souad Mekhennet - The surprise U.S.-brokered agreement last week to establish normal ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was a powerful example of how the very notion of Middle East peace has shifted. Arab states are increasingly willing to leave aside the Palestinian question to seek a variety of relationships with Israel, the region's dominant military force and economic powerhouse. "We saw an opportunity to take a bold step, one with the potential to fashion a new regional paradigm and introduce a new way of thinking - pragmatic, practical and solution-oriented," said Omar Ghobash, the UAE assistant minister of public diplomacy. "The paradigm is also one of substantially greater collaboration across critical areas, including but not limited to technology, trade and education, and a strong reduction in the level of tensions. We believe Israel is keenly aware of that same potential."