Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan and Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani at the White House on Tuesday (September 15) to sign historic peace accords between their nations.
"This day is a pivot of history, it heralds a new dawn of peace," Netanyahu said. "For thousands of years, the Jewish people have prayed for peace, for decades, the Jewish state has prayed for peace, and this is why today we are filled with such profound gratitude."
The Trump administration played a crucial role in negotiating the Abraham Accords, in which the two countries join Egypt and Jordan as the third and fourth Arab states to normalize relations with Israel.
"Together, these agreements will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive peace across the entire region, something which nobody thought was possible, certainly not in this day and age," President Donald Trump said. "These agreements prove that the nations of the region are breaking free from failed approaches of the past. Today's signing sets history on a new course, and there will be other countries very very soon that will follow these great leaders."
As part of the deal, Israel will halt its attempts to annex parts of the West Bank and other areas listed in the Trump administration's Mideast peace plan. The countries will exchange ambassadors and establish embassies while working together on a host of issues, including trade, tourism, and security.
President Trump said that other Arab nations are in talks to sign similar agreements.
"We'll have at least five or six countries coming along very quickly," Trump said, adding, "They want to see peace. They've been fighting for a long time."
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