Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden praised the United Arab Emirates-Israel peace deal brokered by President Trump, claiming the “efforts of the Obama-Biden administration” helped “foster a broader Arab-Israeli opening,” and refused to mention the Trump Administration for the “historic step.”
“Today, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have taken a historic step to bridge the deep divides of the Middle East. The UAE’s offer to publicly recognize the State of Israel is a welcome, brave, and badly-needed act of statesmanship. And it is a critical recognition that Israel is a vibrant, integral part of the Middle East that is here to stay. Israel can and will be a valued strategic and economic partner to all who welcome it,” Biden said in a statement.
“The coming together of Israel and Arab states builds on the efforts of multiple administrations to foster a broader Arab-Israeli opening, including the efforts of the Obama-Biden administration to build on the Arab Peace Initiative,” Biden added.
Biden’s statement gave no direct credit to the Trump administration for the Israel-UAE accord, citing his “personally spent time” as Vice President with both UAE and Israel leaders that led to the surprise announcement on Thursday.
“I personally spent time with leaders of both Israel and the UAE during our administration building the case for cooperation and broader engagement and the benefits it could deliver to both nations, and I am gratified by today’s announcement.
The former Vice President also vowed that the “Biden-Harris Administration will seek to build on this progress, and will challenge all the nations of the region to keep pace.”
Former Secretary of State John Kerry, now a Biden campaign surrogate also did not directly acknowledge the efforts of the Trump administration in achieving the agreement, saying it helped Trump from “the blunder of promoting West Bank annexation, and leaves open prospects for a final Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.”
For now, it saves the Trump Admin from the blunder of promoting West Bank annexation, and leaves open prospects for a final Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement based on a two state solution, realizing the ultimate vision of a lasting peace between Israel and all its neighbors.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) August 13, 2020
The Trump campaign ridiculed Biden’s assertion that the peace agreement was due to efforts of the previous administration, saying the former Vice President “failed globalist mindset” couldn’t accomplish such a “victory for world peace.”
“With today’s historic peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, President Trump has achieved a victory for world peace that career politicians like Joe Biden were never able to accomplish,” former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell said in a statement. “As radical Democrats turn their backs on the world’s only Jewish state in an attempt to appease their anti-Israel base, only President Trump could have brought peace between the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim peoples of the Middle East. Joe Biden and other Washington insiders are simply too entrenched in their failed, globalist mindsets.”
Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed released a joint statement Thursday morning a “Historic Peace Agreement” between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, saying with the helped of the United States, the two Middle East nations have agreed to “full normalization of relations.”
Joint Statement of the United States, the State of Israel, and the United Arab Emirates pic.twitter.com/oVyjLxf0jd
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2020
“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region,” according to the joint statement released after the three leaders spoke Thursday morning. “The historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region. All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today’s historic achievement.”
In brief remarks from the Oval Office, Trump said the peace deal was “a truly historic moment” and will be called “Abraham Accord,” named for the “father of all three great faiths.”
Delegations from the United States, the UAE, and Israel are expected to meet in the coming weeks to “sign bilateral agreements” regarding investment, direct flights along with tourism, security, telecommunications, energy, and the establishment of reciprocal embassies. The two countries also includes a “joint cooperation on vaccines for COVID-19,” that will “immediately expand and accelerate the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus.”
Arab leaders, including Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman all welcomed the agreement.
The announcement marks the UAE as the first Arab Gulf state and the third Arab country after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 to have active diplomatic ties to Israel.
20202020 Election2020 Presidential RaceArabBenjamin NetanyahuBiden-HarrisEgyptIsraelJoe BidenJohn KerryMiddle EastObama AdministrationPeace DealPresident TrumpUAEUnited Arab Emirates
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