Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a telephone conversation with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa to discuss the recently signed treaties between their nations.
Netanyahu later described the exchange as “outstanding” and “very friendly conversation.” After having “reiterated the principles of the Abraham Accords,” he said they also conversed on ways to “quickly add content” so the agreement can be advanced into “economic peace, technological peace (and) tourist peace” in “practical steps” that would be revealed “very soon.”
In contrast to Jerusalem’s apparent excitement over the abundance of prospects of so-called “good-fruit” that derives out of peace agreements with regional actors, Palestinian leadership is seemingly heightening efforts to thwart Israeli normalization with the Arab world.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki declared that Ramallah is “ has decided to concede its right” to quit the chairmanship of the Arab League in protest of the 22 member-state union’s refusal to condemn the Abraham Accords. “There is no honor in seeing Arabs running towards normalization during its presidency. Since the decision was taken in Washington, there is no point in trying to convince some not to normalize, especially when they are not decision makers,” said the top Palestinian diplomat.
Despite the vocal Palestinian rejection, U.S. President Donald Trump used his online address to the 75th annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to hail the recent pacts Washington brokered between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain. “These ground breaking peace deals are the dawn of the new Middle East. By taking a different approach, we have achieved different outcomes. Far superior outcomes. We took an approach and the approach worked. We intend to deliver more peace agreements shortly, and I have never been more optimistic for the future of the region. There is no blood in the sand. Those days are hopefully over,” said Trump.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan used his own speech to the UNGA to condemn the American peace efforts, while reiterating Ankara’s pledge to support the Palestinians. “The Palestinian people have stood up against Israel’s policies of oppression, violence, and intimidation for more than half a century,” asserted Erdoğan, adding that, “upon rejection of the document of surrender, which was tried to be imposed on Palestine under the name of “Deal of the Century,” Israel this time accelerated its attempts to “have the inside track” with the help of its collaborators.”
“Turkey will not support any plan which the Palestinian people have not consented,” insisted the Turkish leader.