ABU DHABI — The historic achievement of the UAE diplomacy in halting Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories, is a clear evidence that the Palestinian cause will remain a priority for the UAE policy, said Saqr Ghobashi, speaker of Federal National Council (FNC).

Ghobashi commended the efforts of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for a lasting peace in the region.

"These efforts emanate from the UAE's wise approach of addressing various political issues, instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and sustained by President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan," he added.

Meanwhile, an Emirati expert has stated that the US guarantee on stopping Israeli annexation gives golden opportunity for Palestinians.

"Israel has agreed to stop the annexation of Palestinian territories. As Americans have given their guarantee [to Israeli assurance], of course, Palestinians can grab this opportunity and resume negotiations with Israel to find a permanent solution," said Dr. Ebtesam Al Ketbi, president of the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Policy Centre (EPC) a key think-tank in the Middle East.

"If Palestinians are wise, they will use this. Otherwise there was no other opportunity to stop the Israeli annexation and resume negotiations for two-state solution," she explained.

"Which other development [or agreement] has given such an opportunity for Palestinians in recent history?" Al Ketbi asked.

However, she has noticed that some countries with some vested interests are using their media machinery against the UAE. "They try to forget the fact that the UAE is not the first Arab country that made diplomatic relations with Israel," she pointed out.

Moreover, the countries opposing this deal are also hiding the fact that they had already made covert and overt relations with Israel, said the academic who has been providing decision makers in the UAE and the Gulf region with a complete and in-depth analyses of current events and developments.

Both Israel and the Arab countries can mutually benefit from the cooperation in advanced technology and related areas. "Arab nations have to be realistic to maximize their benefits out of this agreement," Al Ketbi suggested.

Both parties can work together in many fields, especially in medicine, civilian nuclear energy, she said The joint statement revealed that the UAE and Israel would immediately expand and accelerate cooperation regarding the treatment of and the development of a vaccine for the coronavirus. — WAM