Iran, Turkey term UAE-Israel pact a betrayal of Palestine

Tehran, August 14

Iran and Turkey lashed out at their regional rival the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday over its decision to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel in a US-brokered deal, accusing it of betraying the Palestinian cause.

Iran’s foreign ministry called the deal a “dagger that was unjustly struck by the UAE into the backs of the Palestinian people and all Muslims.” It said the deal was “dangerous and illegitimate”, the state news agency IRNA quoted a Foreign Ministry statement.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif termed the agreement a “theatre” fabricated by the US.

Turkey said the people of the region “will never forget and will never forgive this hypocritical behaviour” by the UAE. The UAE, which has never fought Israel and has quietly been improving ties for years, said the agreement put a hold on Israel’s plans to unilaterally annex parts of the occupied West Bank, which the Palestinians view as the heartland of their future state. But the Turkish foreign ministry said the UAE had no authority to negotiate with Israel on behalf of the Palestinians or “to make concessions on matters vital to Palestine.”

The agreement would make the UAE the first Gulf Arab state and the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have full diplomatic ties with Israel.

Meanwhile, Palestinians said the deal hindered the quest for the Mideast peace. “I never expected this poison dagger to come from an Arab country,” Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official and veteran negotiator said. “You are rewarding aggression. … You have destroyed, with this move, any possibility of peace between Palestinians and Israelis,” he said.

Palestine issued a scathing statement, terming it a “betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause.” The Palestinians have called for an urgent meeting of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to condemn the move.

The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory for US President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election. China also welcomed the move. — Agencies

UN chief welcomes historic agreement

United Nations: Welcoming the UAE-Israel pact, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed hope that the historic accord would lead to Israeli and Palestinian leaders re-engaging in “meaningful negotiations” for a two state-solution. The UN chief said peace in the Middle East was imperative as the region confronted the grave threats of Covid and radicalisation. PTI