UAE-Israel agreement is sovereign decision, not directed at Iran: Gargash

CAIRO – 17 August 2020: The United Arab Emirates agreement with Israel is a sovereign decision and is not directed at Iran, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said in a tweet on Monday.

“The UAE-Israeli peace treaty is a sovereign decision that is not directed at Iran. We say it and repeat it. We do not accept interference in our decisions, just as we reject threats, whether as a way of bullying or anxiety,” Gargash said on his official Twitter account, according to Al Arabiya news channel.

He also added that “strategic decisions are transformative and have an impact. Our futuristic decision enhances [the UAE’s] position and [its] competitiveness.

معاهدة السلام الإماراتية الإسرائيلية قرار سيادي ليس موجّهاً إلى إيران، نقولها ونكرّرها. ولا نقبل التدخل في قراراتنا كما نرفض التهديد والوعيد سواء كان مبعثه التنمر أو القلق.
القرارات الاستراتيجية تحوليّة ولها وقعها وتأثيرها، وقرارنا مستقبلي يعزّز موقعنا وتنافسيتنا.

— د. أنور قرقاش (@AnwarGargash) August 17, 2020

Brokered by the United States of America, both the United Arab of Emirates and Israel reached an agreement of normalization in return for putting an end to the Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank, to be the first Gulf State country that normalizes relations with Israel.

The announcement of the agreement came during a phone call between Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

“This 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,” a joint statement read.

The agreement of normalization includes having “bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications, technology, energy, healthcare, culture, the environment, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit,” the statement added, noting that delegations of three countries would met next weeks to sign the agreement.

“Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East's most dynamic societies and advanced economies will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation, and forging closer people-to-people relations,” the statement continued.

On his official Twitter account, US President Donald Trump described the agreement as “historic.