U.S. Ambassador Says Israel’s Agreement With UAE Holds ‘Enormous Upside’

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U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman speaks during a briefing at the White House on Thursday.

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Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

On Israel only suspending annexation, not abandoning it, and Palestinians saying they feel betrayed by the UAE

The entire notion of Israeli sovereignty derives from the map that Israel had agreed to, which itself contemplates a Palestinian state living alongside Israel. So it’s that peace initiative that where Israel for the first time agreed to live within a Palestinian state that would comprise 70% of Judea and Samaria, plus some additional territory elsewhere. I mean, that is a huge benefit for the Palestinians. And I think it’s the agreement between Israel and the Emirates that, frankly, breathes some life into it. I don’t think the Palestinians should feel betrayed. What the Palestinians should recognize is that in contrast to the old days, they no longer can hold countries hostage from acting in their own self-interests. It’s in the interest of the Emirates to make peace with Israel and vice versa.

Ryan Benk and Simone Popperl produced the audio interview.