Israeli PM expects more Arab countries to follow UAE

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he expects "additional countries" to normalize their relations with Israel following last week's announcement of an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Speaking in a video statement issued by his office, Netanyahu said that the deal, announced last Thursday, is a "historic change (that) will also advance peace with the Arab world."

He added that "the deal will eventually advance also a peace deal with the Palestinians."

Normalizing relations with Arab countries is a key part of Netanyahu's "peace for peace doctrine," according to which Israel can sign peace accords with the Arab world regardless of the long-stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.

"Under this doctrine, Israel is not required to withdraw from any territory," Netanyahu said in the statement, referring to the Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza Strip, which Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled ever since despite international criticism.

The Palestinians condemned the agreement. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement on Sunday that the deal "undermines" the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.

The Israel-UAE deal marks the first diplomatic ties between Israel and a Gulf country. The UAE is the third Arab country that has official relations with Israel.

(CGTN)