WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will hold a 15 September signing ceremony for the agreement normalising relations between Israel and the UAE, a senior White House official said on Tuesday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan would lead the two delegations to the ceremony.
“I am proud to embark next week to Washington, at the invitation of President Trump, to take part in this historic ceremony at the White House for the foundation of the peace treaty between Israel and the United (Arab) Emirates,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.
Trump and other administration officials have said they expect Saudi Arabia and other countries to follow suit in recognising Israel.
Iran dismissive
Iran has dismissed the agreement, which also served to firm up opposition to Tehran, a regional power seen by the UAE, Israel and the US as the main threat in the Middle East.
The Palestinian leadership initially called the accord “betrayal” and a “stab in the back of the Palestinian cause,” but has curbed its criticism, according to a draft resolution ahead of an Arab League meeting in Cairo on Wednesday.
The draft does not include a call to condemn, or act against, the UAE over the deal.