US President Donald Trump expected Saudi Arabia to recognize Israel "at the appropriate time" to join the ranks of the Emirates and Bahrain, which, under his auspices, signed two "historic" agreements with Israel on Tuesday in the White House.
Trump announced that there is a possibility that other "7 or 8 countries" would sign similar agreements with Israel, "including the large (countries)," indicating that Saudi Arabia might be one of these countries.
The US President told reporters, "I spoke with the Saudi king," and they will join "at the appropriate time."
A fair and comprehensive solution
In the context, the Saudi Cabinet said in a statement yesterday that Riyadh stands with the Palestinian people and supports all efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.
The statement said that the cabinet "refers to the Kingdom’s affirmation of interest and concern for the unity, sovereignty and integrity of the Arab lands, and its non-acceptance of any prejudice threatening the stability of the region and its standing by the Palestinian people."
The statement affirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to "supporting all efforts aimed at reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, enabling the Palestinian people to establish their independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative."
The Council did not comment on the signing of the normalization agreement between Bahrain, the UAE and Israel, or the US talks that were raised about talks with Riyadh to move in the same direction.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan announced from Berlin on August 19, during a press conference with his German counterpart Heiko Maas, that his country will not normalize relations with Israel before reaching a comprehensive Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement based on the criteria set by the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002. And the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The exchange of ambassadors
On Tuesday, Israel signed two agreements to normalize relations with the UAE and Bahrain during a ceremony held at the White House, in the presence of the US President, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and his Bahraini counterpart, Abdul Latif Al-Zayani.
As the signing ceremony began, Trump said that Israel, the UAE and Bahrain would exchange ambassadors, and "will cooperate with each other as friendly countries."
He added that these agreements will establish a comprehensive peace in the region based on friendship and mutual respect, and will stipulate allowing Muslims around the world to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Strategic choice
On the other hand, the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, received a phone call Tuesday evening from Trump congratulating him for signing a declaration supporting peace between Bahrain and Israel, according to the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
The agency added that Trump stressed that "Bahrain has adopted a peace approach that will encourage everyone to enter the peace process in a way that guarantees security, stability and prosperity for all countries and peoples of the region."
For his part, the King of Bahrain stressed that "peace is a strategic choice" for his country, and that "the Kingdom's vision and approach is based on understanding, dialogue, cooperation, and the promotion of coexistence and rapprochement between peoples and different cultures, away from tensions."
In the context, the Bahrain News Agency said that the Bahraini Minister of Transportation and Communications, Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, and the Israeli Minister of Transport, Miri Regev, discussed in a phone call yesterday, Tuesday, ways of cooperation in various fields of transportation.
The agency added that the two ministers discussed "means of cooperation in various fields of transport and communications, mechanisms for their development and their future implications for the region's economies."
Change the Middle East
In his speech on the occasion of the signing of the two agreements, the Emirati Foreign Minister said that the aim of the peace treaties is to work for the stability of the region, believing that they will help to stand more by the Palestinian people.
He added that any option other than peace would mean destruction, poverty and human suffering, considering that "today is witnessing an event that will change the Middle East."
Abdullah bin Zayed thanked the Israeli prime minister for "choosing peace," and said, "This initiative would not have been possible without the efforts of the American president."
In turn, Netanyahu said that "the peace that we are witnessing today is not only between the leaders but between the peoples of Israel, the Emirates and Bahrain," stressing that it will continue and that it can put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict forever.
new dawn
Netanyahu promised that other countries would join the peace accords, considering that this day is a historic shift, and heralds a new dawn for peace.
"We are full of deep gratitude to President Trump for his decisive leadership, and he has stood by Israel with courage. I thank President Trump for confronting Tehran, and for his efforts in America, the Middle East and the world," he added.
As for Abdul Latif Al-Zayani, he said, "Today is a historic moment for all the peoples of the Middle East," and that the agreement "is a historic step on the road to lasting peace."
The Bahraini minister considered that the Middle East has been delayed for a very long time due to lack of trust, and that actual cooperation is the best way to achieve peace and preserve rights.
Al-Zayani thanked President Trump for his efforts that "made peace a reality," adding, "We welcome and appreciate the steps taken by Israel to achieve peace."