Historic, betrayal, new era: This is how world reacted to UAE-Israel agreement

United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel reached a landmark deal on Thursday and agreed to establish full diplomatic relations. The agreement announced by US President Donald Trump secures an Israeli commitment to stop the further annexation of West Bank, the land sought by Palestinians for their future state.

With this, UAE became the first Gulf Arab nation and the third Arab nation, after Egypt and Jordan, to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.

Here is how the world reacted to this development:

USA

“HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!”, tweeted President Donald Trump.

Israel

“Today we usher in a new era of peace between Israel and the Arab world,” tweeted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Palestine

The Palestinian Authority voiced its “strong rejection and condemnation” of the deal, AFP reported. President Mahmud Abbas called the deal an “aggression” against the Palestinian people and a “betrayal” of their cause

It announced the “immediate” recall of its ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in protest over the country’s deal to normalise ties with Israel, AFP reported. 

Senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi wrote on Twitter: “May you never experience the agony of having your country stolen; may you never feel the pain of living in captivity under occupation; may you never witness the demolition of your home or murder of your loved ones. May you never be sold out by your friends.”

Hamas

Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, told AFP, the deal “does not serve the Palestinian cause.” Its spokesperson Hazem Qasem described the agreement as “a reward for the Israeli occupation and crimes.”

United Nations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped the Israel-UAE deal can help realize a two-state solution with the Palestinians for peace in the Middle East, AFP reported.

“The secretary-general welcomes this agreement, hoping it will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two state-solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements,” a spokesman for Guterres said in a statement.

Iran

Although Iran, a major stakeholder in the region is yet to officially react to the deal, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, an adviser on international affairs and a former deputy foreign minister, lashed out at the UAE.

“UAE’s new approach for normalizing ties w/fake, criminal #Israel doesn’t maintain peace & security, but serves ongoing Zionists’ crimes,” he tweeted.

“Abu Dhabi’s behavior has no justification, turning back on the Palestine cause. W/ that strategic mistake, #UAE will be engulfed in Zionism fire,” he added.

Egypt

President Abdel Fatah Elsisi tweeted that he followed the agreement with “great interest and appreciation.”

Bahrain

“This historic step will contribute to strengthening stability and peace in the region,” Bahrain’s government said in a statement, AFP reported.

United Kingdom

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described it as a “historic step which sees the normalisation of relations between two great friends of the UK.”

France

France welcomed Israel’s decision to “suspend the annexation of Palestinians territories.” 

“The new state of mind shown by these announcements must now allow the resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians with a view to establishing two states within the framework of international law and agreed parameters, which is the only option to enable a just and lasting peace,” Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.