Netanyahu has got his White House photo op with Trump but few believe Israel’s sudden peace deals will save the PM from the crises engulfing him at home.
Neri Zilber
Updated Sep. 15, 2020 2:50PM ET / Published Sep. 15, 2020 2:48PM ET
TEL AVIV—Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed historic peace agreements on Tuesday during a festive ceremony at the White House presided over by President Trump. Several hundred cheering officials and dignitaries gathered on the South Lawn, with Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani delivering remarks from the White House portico high above. The U.S.-brokered accords were a political boon for Trump in the midst of his tight re-election bid, a useful opportunity to shift attention away from his “downplaying” of the domestic COVID pandemic and burnish his reputation as a global dealmaker.
Calling it “an important day for the world, [and] an important day for peace,” Trump took singular credit for the peace deals that had brought Israel and the Gulf Arab kingdoms together. “There were only two [peace agreements] in Israel’s first 72 years. We have achieved two in a single month,” Trump said.
Neri Zilber
Updated Sep. 15, 2020 2:50PM ET / Published Sep. 15, 2020 2:48PM ET
TEL AVIV—Israel and the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed historic peace agreements on Tuesday during a festive ceremony at the White House presided over by President Trump. Several hundred cheering officials and dignitaries gathered on the South Lawn, with Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani delivering remarks from the White House portico high above. The U.S.-brokered accords were a political boon for Trump in the midst of his tight re-election bid, a useful opportunity to shift attention away from his “downplaying” of the domestic COVID pandemic and burnish his reputation as a global dealmaker.
Calling it “an important day for the world, [and] an important day for peace,” Trump took singular credit for the peace deals that had brought Israel and the Gulf Arab kingdoms together. “There were only two [peace agreements] in Israel’s first 72 years. We have achieved two in a single month,” Trump said.
