Israel to sign deals with UAE, Bahrain tomorrow in DC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived this morning in Washington, D.C. ahead of the signing ceremony of the peace deals between Israel and two Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, at the White House on Tuesday. 

Historic visit: “We now have two historic peace agreements with two Arab countries within one month,” Netanyahu told cabinet ministers on Sunday before his departure. “I am sure that we all praise this new age… I want to promise you that each and every one of you through your ministries will be a part of it, because this is going to be a different peace.” Mossad chief Yossi Cohen, who is part of the Israeli delegation, told reporters before departure that Israel is working on finalizing normalization deals with other Arab countries. 

Guest list: Hungary will be the only EU country sending a minister to the signing ceremony in the White House tomorrow. And Netanyahu is the only Israeli politician attending the ceremony — Alternative Prime Minister Benny Gantz (who is currently serving as acting prime minister) and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi remained behind in Israel. 

Four more years: The Trump administration reportedly assured the UAE that the U.S. won’t give Israel a green light on annexing parts of the West Bank at least until 2024. According to The Times of Israel, Kushner assured UAE Ambassador to the U.S. Yousef Al Otaiba that the timetable was consistent with the terms offered to the Palestinians in the Trump peace plan. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden told J Street last week that Netanyahu knows his position that he’s “going to oppose annexation as president.” 

On the Hill: Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and nine other Democratic members of the House, sent a letter to Trump urging him to ensure Israel’s qualitative military edge is maintained in any arms sales to the UAE.