President Trump declared the “dawn of a new Middle East” as he oversaw the signing of pacts between Israel and two Arab nations, an event he hopes will pave the way for increased stability in a volatile region and cast him as a peacemaker ahead of November’s election.
Hundreds of diplomats, lawmakers, and officials gathered on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday afternoon to witness the normalizing of relations between Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates — the first time in more than 25 years that Arab nations have signed agreements with Israel.
However, Palestinian officials have denounced the so-called Abraham Accords as a stab in the back by fellow Arab nations.
Speaking from the White House balcony, Trump said more nations would follow in signing deals.
“We’re here this afternoon to change the course of history. After decades of division and conflict, we mark the dawn of a new Middle East,” he said. “Thanks to the great courage of the leaders of these three countries, we take a major stride toward a future in which people of all faiths and backgrounds live together in peace and prosperity.”
Minutes later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed accords with Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif al Zayani.
COVID-19 restrictions deprived Trump of the chance for any made-for-TV handshake moments.
Even so, the signing marks a diplomatic breakthrough for Trump, who touted his deal-making abilities during his 2016 run for the White House only to struggle once in office with seemingly intractable standoffs with everyone from Democrats in Congress to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un…
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