The EU's executive on Friday welcomed the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic ties, saying it would benefit both countries and help promote stability in the Middle East.
"It is important for both [countries] and for regional stability," a European Commission spokeswoman told a news briefing.
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"Both countries are our partners and of course, we are committed to a two-state solution and we are of course ready to work on a resumption of the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians."
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted. "I welcome Israel-UAE normalization; benefits both & is important for regional stability. Suspending annexation is a positive step, plans should now be abandoned altogether. EU hopes for resumed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on 2-state solution based on intl' agreed parameters."
I welcome Israel-UAE normalisation; benefits both & is important for regional stability.
Suspending annexation is positive step, plans should now be abandoned altogether. EU hopes for resumed Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on 2-state solution based on intl' agreed parameters.— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) August 14, 2020
Under the accord, which US President Donald Trump helped broker, Israel agreed to suspend its plan to extend sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley. It also firms up opposition to regional power Iran, which the UAE, Israel and the United States view as the main threat in the conflict-riven Middle East.
The treaty makes the UAE the first Persian Gulf state to forge official diplomatic relations with Israel and the third Arab country overall to normalize relations with the Jewish state, following Egypt and Jordan.
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