Pakistan's approach to UAE-Israel deal to be guided by Palestinian people's rights and aspirations

Pakistan on Friday said that its approach to the agreement between UAE and Israel will be guided by how Palestinian's rights and aspirations are upheld.

"Pakistan’s approach will be guided by our evaluation of how Palestinians’ rights and aspirations are upheld and how regional peace, security and stability are preserved," said a statement by the Foreign Office.

It noted that the development has "far-reaching implications".

"Pakistan has an abiding commitment to the full realisation of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination," the statement highlighted.

It added: "Peace and stability in the Middle East region is also Pakistan’s key priority."

The statement also stressed that Pakistan has "consistently supported a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant UN and OIC resolutions as well as international law" so that a "comprehensive and lasting peace" in the region can be established.

US-brokered deal

In the deal announced on Thursday by the US, Israel pledged to suspend its planned annexation of Palestinian lands in exchange for a normalisation of ties with the UAE.

The agreement was the product of lengthy discussions between Israel, the UAE and the United States that accelerated recently, White House officials said.

A joint statement issued by the three nations said US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed had “agreed to the full normalisation of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates”.

The statement said that “as a result of this diplomatic breakthrough and at the request of President Trump with the support of the United Arab Emirates, Israel will suspend declaring sovereignty” over areas of the West Bank that were envisioned in a US plan announced by Trump in January.

The agreement envisions giving Muslims greater access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Old City of Jerusalem by allowing them to fly from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, White House officials said.

Trump said, “This deal is a significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure and prosperous Middle East. Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead .... and normalise relations with Israel.”

“We are already discussing this with other nations, very powerful, very good nations that want to see peace in the Middle East so you will probably see others of these,” Trump added. “Things are happening that I can’t talk about, but they’re extremely positive.”