Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a military base in Ramla, Israel, Aug. 4, 2020. (Photo/JTA-Yossi Aloni-Flash90) News Israel In a diplomatic breakthrough, Israel normalizes ties with United Arab Emirates and suspends West Bank annexation Facebook Twitter Email SMS WhatsApp Share By Josefin Dolsten, JTA | August 13, 2020 This is a developing story. In a diplomatic breakthrough, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are normalizing ties. As part of a peace deal brokered by President Donald Trump, Israel will pause its plans to annex areas of the West Bank, according to a joint statement released by the White House. “Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty over areas outlined in the President’s Vision for Peace and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world. The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that added diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal,” the statement read. The statement, which referred to the two countries as “two of America’s most reliable and capable regional partners,” said that Israel and the UAE will sign agreements in the coming weeks related to investment, tourism, air travel, security, opening embassies and more. The two nations also will work together on developing a vaccine for the coronavirus, it said. The Gulf states have been growing closer with Israel in recent years, but the UAE is the first to establish formal ties with the Jewish state. The countries share a goal of countering Iranian influence in the Middle East. Most Arab countries do not recognize Israel’s existence. The Jewish state currently has ties only with Egypt and Jordan. Josefin Dolsten JTA Staff Writer JTA Content distributed by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency news service. Also On J. Bay Area Bay Area leaders join one of the last flights of Ethiopians to Israel Politics Biden's new plan to fight antisemitism demands sweeping reforms Analysis Who won debate over defining ‘antisemitism’ in White House plan? TV Q&A: Meet Pamela Schuller, the comedian on ‘Jewish Matchmaking’ Subscribe to our Newsletter Enter Email Sign Up