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Published image, Reuters
Pompeo said peace between Israel and Arab countries would improve the lives of people in those countries
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he hoped to see other Arab countries follow the UAE and normalize their relations with Israel.
This will not only increase stability in the Middle East, but also improve people’s lives, Pompeo said.
But he added that the United States would ensure that Israel retains a military advantage.
Pompeo spoke after meeting the Israeli prime minister in Jerusalem, at the start of a five-day trip that will also take him to Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
And earlier this month, US President Donald Trump helped negotiate the historic agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. With this agreement, the UAE joined Egypt and Jordan to become the third Arab country to establish relations with Israel.
Under the agreement, Israel and the United Arab Emirates agreed to establish full diplomatic relations, including the exchange of ambassadors, direct flights, and openly engaging in bilateral trade.
Israel has also said it will suspend its plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank which many believe will eliminate the chances of peace with the Palestinians.
Pompeo, who wears a mask depicting the American flag, warmly greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, exchanging two elbows.
In brief statements, he praised the Israel-Emirati deal, saying he was “very optimistic that we see other Arab countries joining in.”
He added: “The opportunity given to them to recognize the State of Israel and to work with them will not only lead to increased stability in the Middle East, but will also improve the lives of the people of their countries.”
Netanyahu said the agreement heralded a new era, adding: “I hope we have good news in the future, maybe in the near future.”
Published image, AFP
Netanyahu says Israel opposes sale of F-35 to UAE
Israeli and American officials believe Bahrain, Oman and Sudan may be the next countries to establish relations with Israel.
But the Sudanese foreign ministry sacked its spokesperson last week after praising the UAE-Israel deal, calling it “a brave and daring step.”
The Palestinians accused the Emiratis of treason. Previous peace plans promised Israel to forge ties with the Arab states only as part of an agreement to end the conflict with them.
Pompeo also referred to reports of a planned deal with the United States to sell F-35 advanced fighter jets, which Israel already owns, to the United Arab Emirates.
He said: “The United States has a legal requirement for qualitative military superiority [لإسرائيل]. We will continue to respect that. “
“But we have also had a security relationship with the UAE for over 20 years, as we have provided them with technical and military assistance. We will now continue to review this process to continue to ensure that we send it to them. equipment they need, ”he added.
Netanyahu has said Israel opposes the sale of F-35s to the UAE, but UAE Foreign Ministry Minister of State Anwar Gargash said last week his demands countries to buy F-35s were “legitimate” and “they should get them.”
Pompeo noted that Israel and the United Arab Emirates view Iran as a common threat. He pledged that the United States would remain committed to ensuring that the international arms embargo against Iran does not end in mid-October, even if that meant seeking to “restore” sanctions from the United States. UN that were lifted as part of the Iran nuclear deal.
Iran, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia and China have said the United States has no right to initiate a process of reimposing sanctions because it has abandoned the nuclear deal in 2018.
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