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One analyst called #UAEIsrael deal “seismic shift.” Another said “inevitable.” But UAE only 3rd country to normalize with Israel. They've been growing increasingly close for years, unified over shared Iranian enemy. But if cooperation was mostly under table, now there's no table
As senior US official put it: "Just because it might not be a big surprise, doesn’t mean it’s not a big deal." Especially if it's a "domino effect," says Israeli official. “Substantive talks” have already taken place to try and make Bahrain, Oman next, senior Admin official says
When @JudyWoodruff asked about possibility other countries normalizing before September UAE/Israel signing ceremony, @robertcobrien said, "I don't know if they will be here for the signing," but repeated hope today was just the beginning. Morocco is also a possibility, I'm told.
On annexation, months ago, Israel/UAE/US making progress on normalization. And then @UAEEmbassyUS Otaiba wrote op-ed in Hebrew warning against annexation. After that, US team told Netanyahu, "We’re making headway. Don’t create headwinds," says senior Administration official.
Normalization also provided off-ramp to Netanyahu over annexation. US' annexation stoplight had already been blinking yellow. @netanyahu was complaining about attacks from the right. Otaiba's op-ed helped provide a solution: normalize and suspend annexation simultaneously.
Today, each country used different language. Kushner said annexation "suspended." @netanyahu said Israel would "wait temporarily." @USAmbIsrael once again closer to Bibi than Kushner, said sovereignty "not off the table." @MohamedBinZayed said agreement was to "stop" annexation
. @robertcobrien to @JudyWoodruff went further, reflecting UAE's understanding: "We wouldn't refer to it as temporary. We would say it's a suspension." "We don't think Israelis are going to, are going to extend sovereignty at this point"...
And more @robertcobrien to @JudyWoodruff: "Unless the US gave the Israelis the green light to extend sovereignty, [and] I don't think that's going to happen."
Israeli, UAE, US officials say first steps will be bilateral deals on trade, technology, business; Emirati investment into Israeli COVID research; direct flights; embassies. No announcement yet on which Israeli city will host UAE's embassy.
For Palestinians, there was already no love lost between Abu Mazen, @MohamedBinZayed. But this is exactly what Palestinians feared: Arab country normalizing with Israel despite policies they opposed: US moving embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Golan annexation, defunding @UNRWA
Israeli officials say they hope this pushes Palestinians to feel isolated, make a deal. But main sentiment among Palestinians expressed by @DrHananAshrawi: "May you never be sold out by your quote 'friends.'" Our @newshour coverage of a historic day: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/will-israel-uae-deal-represent-a-seismic-shift-in-the-middle-east
