“HUGE”: Trump announces peace deal with Israel and United Arab Emirates Nine Line News Team August 13, 2020 Articles, Nine Line News, Relentlessly Patriotic 983 President Donald Trump today announced that Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to a peace deal brokered by his administration that will lead to the full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations. In a tweet shortly after the announcement was made, Trump called it a “HUGE breakthrough today!” With the agreement, the UAE becomes only the third Arab country and the first Gulf Arab country to recognize Israel. The Jewish state had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. Under the terms of the agreement, Israel would suspend planes to annex large parts of the West Bank. According to the official statement, Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign 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. “Everybody said this would be impossible,” Trump said. “After 49 years, Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations.” Trump added, “This deal is a significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East. Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead.” Even the pandemic got a shout-out in the deal. The United Arab Emirates and Israel will immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus. Working together, these efforts will help save Muslim, Jewish, and Christian lives throughout the region. The White House tweeted, “President @realDonaldTrump ‘made clear that the problems of the Middle East can only be solved when people of all faiths come together to fight Islamic extremism and pursue economic opportunity. This agreement will be known as the Abraham Accord.’” President @realDonaldTrump "made clear that the problems of the Middle East can only be solved when people of all faiths come together to fight Islamic extremism and pursue economic opportunity." This agreement will be known as the Abraham Accord. pic.twitter.com/MKxrnyRaEN — The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 13, 2020 In his remarks today, Trump said “Abraham, as many of you know, was the father of all three great faiths. … And no person better symbolizes the potential for unity among all these three great faiths than Abraham, and that’s why this accord has been given that name.” Rep. Ilhan Omar had no immediate comment on Trump’s efforts to promote global and religious unity, but today promised “to defeat Donald Trump and his hateful ideology.” Proud of my CBC sister @KamalaHarris for becoming the first Black woman ever chosen as Vice President! Together, we are going to defeat Donald Trump and his hateful ideology. pic.twitter.com/pq0dxI5kq6 — Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 12, 2020 While the joint statement promises “The parties will continue their efforts in this regard to achieve a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” the Palestinians weren’t impressed. Hamas slammed the announcement saying the deal “does not serve the Palestinian cause. Iran (predictably) also dumped a bit of cold water on the deal. The Tasnim news agency, affiliated with Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, called the accord “shameful.” What does it tell you when Democrat U.S Representative Ilhan Omar is on the same page as Hamas and Iran? Pretty much everything you need to know. During his announcement, Trump jokingly asked Treasury Sec. Steve Mnuchin, who also praised the development, whether it was easier to negotiate with these countries or the Democrats amid stalled coronavirus stimulus negotiations. “Middle East is more reasonable,” Trump joked. Trump also said of the Abraham Accord that”I wanted it to be called the Donald J. Trump Accord but I didn’t think the press would understand that.”