Peace deals close between Israel, other Arab countries: Trump

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that “five or six” more Arab countries were poised to agree to normalize relations with Israel, in line with the landmark accords struck between the Jewish state and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

“We’re very far down the road with about five
countries, five additional countries,” Trump said as he hosted Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office, ahead of a signing
ceremony with both Arab states for the US-brokered peace deal.

“We’ll have at least five or six countries coming along
very quickly, we’re already talking to them,” Trump said.

Trump did not name the additional countries, but hinted
during separate bilateral talks with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed
Al-Nahyan that Saudi Arabia may be on board without saying so specifically.

“We’ve had great talks with Saudi Arabia. I think their
mind is very open,” said Trump who also met with Bahrain Foreign Minister
Abdullatif al-Zayani ahead of the signing ceremony.

For the Mideast, the deals dubbed the Abraham Accords mark a
distinct shift in a decades-old status quo where Arab countries have tried to
maintain unity against Israel over its treatment of the stateless Palestinians.

“After decades of division and conflict we mark the
dawn of a new Middle East,” Trump said as the signing ceremony began.

Palestinian leaders have urged demonstrations in the
occupied territories and outside embassies of the United States, Israel,
Bahrain and the UAE to protest what they called “shameful
agreements.”

Trump nonetheless voiced confidence the Palestinians would
eventually sign on to the US-brokered peace agreements — which he hopes will
boost his reelection chances in November.

“The Palestinians will absolutely be a member. I don’t
say that with any bravado, I just tell you the Palestinians will be a member at
the right time,” Trump said.

The White House event will be the first time Arab nations
have established relations with Israel since Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

Hundreds of people were invited to attend and a symbolic
handshake between the Arab representatives and Netanyahu has not been ruled
out.

Article source: https://www.samaa.tv/global/2020/09/peace-deals-close-between-israel-and-five-or-six-arab-countries-says-trump/