Abu Dhabi | WTNS | August 13:Israel and the United Arab Emirates have reached a US-brokered agreement to normalise relations, a joint statement said on Thursday.

Under the deal, Israel has agreed to suspend its attempts to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, senior White House officials told Reuters.

Mohammed bin Zayed, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, tweeted: “During a call with President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, an agreement was reached to stop further Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories.

“The UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship,” he added.

The officials described the agreement, to be known as the Abraham Accords, as the first of its kind since Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. It also gives Trump a foreign policy success as he seeks re-election on Nov. 3.

White House officials said Trump senior adviser Jared Kushner, U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Middle East envoy Avi Berkowitz were deeply involved in negotiating the deal, as well as secretary of state Mike Pompeo and White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien.

In a joint statement, Israel, the UAE and the US said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed bin Zayed and US President Donald Trump had “agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates”.

“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region,” the statement said.

Netanyahu descibed it as “a historic day” and announced he would make a televised statement at 8pm Jerusalem time.

Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian Authority official, said Israel has been rewarded for its actions in Palestinian territories since 1967.

“The UAE has come out in the open on its secret dealings/normalization with Israel. Please don’t do us a favor. We are nobody’s fig leaf!” she tweeted.

The UAE becomes the third Arab country to reach a peace agreeement with Israel, after Jordan and Egypt in 1994 and 1979 respectively. The pact is called the Abraham Accords.

Israeli and Emirati delegations are set to meet in coming days to sign bilateral agreements regarding investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecommunications and other issues, the statement said.

The two countries are also set to exchange ambassadors and embassies.

President Trump on Thursday announced what he called a “Historic Peace Agreement” between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, saying they agreed to “full normalization of relations.”

“HUGE breakthrough today! Historic Peace Agreement between our two GREAT friends, Israel and the United Arab Emirates!” Trump tweeted Thursday morning.