Oman, other nations hope for lasting peace in Mideast
Oman says it supports the UAE’S decision to normalise ties with Israel, saying it hopes the accord would contribute to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in the Middle East
World leaders voiced hope Friday that a historic deal between the UAE and Israel could kickstart moribund Middle East peace talks.
Oman said on Friday it supported the United Arab Emirate’s decision to normalise ties with Israel, saying it hoped the accord would contribute to a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace in the Middle East.
The statement by a foreign ministry spokesman, carried by state news agency ONA, called the Uae-israel agreement “historic.”
The European Union on Friday welcomed the agreement between Israel and the UAE to establish ties and re-stated its support for a two state Middle East peace deal.
“The normalisation will be at the benefit of both. It is important both for them and for the regional stability. Both countries are our partners,” EU foreign policy spokeswoman Nabila Massrali told reporters.
“And, of course, as the EU, you know very well that we are commited to a two state solution. And we are, of course, ready to work on the resumption of the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians.” Germany welcomed the “historic” deal between Israel and the UAE.
The normalisation of ties between the two countries “is an important contribution to peace in the region,” German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.
Jordan, which borders the West Bank and Israel, said the outcome of the agreement would depend on Israel’s actions, including its stance on a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Foreign Minister Ayman Al Safadi said: “the impact of the deal on peace efforts is linked to the actions Israel will take.”
France welcomed the deal, stressing the suspension of Israel’s plans to annex swathes of the occupied West Bank.
“The decision taken within this framework by the Israeli authorities to suspend the annexation of Palestinian territories is a positive step, which must become a definitive measure,” French Foreign Minister Jean-yves Le Drian said in a statement.
“China is happy to see measures that are helping to ease tensions between countries in the Middle East and promoting regional peace and stability,” said foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian.
“We hope relevant parties will take concrete actions to bring the Palestinian issue back to the track of dialogue and negotiation on an equal footing at an early date,” Zhao said, reiterating Beijing’ssupportforanindependentpalestinianstate.
UN chief Antonio Guterres said he hoped the deal would help realise a two-state solution.
“The secretary general ( hopes) it will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realise a two-state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements,” his spokesman said.
Italy welcomed the announcement of the agreement to normalise relations between Israel and the UAE.
‘’We hope that this important step will contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East,’’ said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in a statement.
‘’In this framework, the Israeli decision to suspend the annexation of portions of the West Bank is a positive development, which we hope will facilitate the resumption of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians aiming at a just, sustainable and lasting two-state solution, which Italy continues to strongly support as the only alternative to ensure peace and prosperity throughout the region,’’ it added.
The leaders of Israel and the UAE will sign their historic peace accord in the White House in around three weeks, Trump announced on Thursday.
“I look forward to hosting them at the White House very soon to formally sign the agreement,” he told reporters.
“We’ll probably be doing it over the next, I would say, three weeks.”
The summit will evoke memories of previous Middle East peace signings in the United States including the inking of the Oslo Accords in 1993 which brought the late Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat together in Washington.
US President Jimmy Carter also hosted the signing of the Camp David Accords between Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin in 1978.