President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed a “new dawn” for the Middle East as he presided over the signing of a historic diplomatic deal between Israel and the Middle East Countries-UAE and Bahrain. “After decades of division and conflict we mark the dawn of a new Middle East,” Trump said.

“We’re here this afternoon to change the course of history,” Trump said referring to the deal as a historic turning point.

“This day is a pivot of history, it heralds new dawn of peace,” Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu said. It is the first time that Arab nations have established relations with Israel since Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

ALSO READ || Israel premier says ‘many more’ secret talks with Arab leaders

Trump also said that 5-6 Arab countries are also interested in striking a peace deal with Israel. “We’re very far down the road with about five countries, five additional countries. We’ll have at least five or six countries coming along very quickly, we’re already talking to them,” Trump said.

Trump was also hopeful that the Palestinians would eventually sign on to the US-brokered peace agreements. “The Palestinians will absolutely be a member. I don’t say that with any bravado, I just tell you the Palestinians will be a member at the right time,” Trump added.

ALSO READ || ‘Thank You’: Donald Trump revels in nomination for 2021 Nobel Peace Prize

The UAE and Israel finalised the deal with an aim to normalise their bilateral relationship, seen as a major development in moving ahead with peace initiatives in the Middle East.

Under the deal, Israel agreed to halt plans to annex parts of the West Bank which the Palestinians want as part of an independent state.