Middle East

"Our experience with the Iranian regime has taught us that partial solutions and appeasement did not stop its threats to international peace and security," King Salman says.

The blast sends a huge column of black smoke into the sky and rocked the village of Ain Qana, in the south of the country, a political stronghold of the heavily armed terrorist group.

Sources familiar with the negotiations say a working idea was for Israeli air defenses to be able to detect the UAE F-35s with technology that effectively defeats the stealth capabilities of the jets.

Islamist voice was needed in parliament to help expose rampant corruption and stand up to tough laws restricting public freedoms, says official with opposition party Islamic Action Front.

Mohammed Dahlan, a former senior Palestinian official who was banished from the West Bank in 2010 after a falling-out with Abbas, has denied any role in the UAE's agreement to normalize ties with Israel, which most Palestinians view as a betrayal of their cause.

“May it be a blessed year of realizing peace and stability in the region,” says Bahraini FM Dr. Abdullatif al-Zayani, after Israeli FM Gabi Ashkenazi sends holiday greeting.

In White House ceremony, Israel and two Arab countries formalize relations under the auspices of Donald Trump, who declares a new dawn.

US president meets with PM Netanyahu in the Oval Office, praising the Israeli leader and vowing other Arab countries will soon join peace process.

Arab diplomats think Oman will be next normalize with Israel, even though unlike other Gulf States, it enjoys good ties with Iran.