Arab League drops resolution condemning UAE-Israel deal

RAMALLAH CITY, Palestine (AA) – The Arab League has dropped a draft resolution condemning a controversial agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize their relations, a Palestinian diplomatic source said on Wednesday.

Palestine and Arab countries agreed to include an emphasis in the final agreement on commitment to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, the two-state solution and the land-for-peace principle, the source said on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, both Palestine and the Arab countries agreed not to include a clear condemnation of the UAE-Israel deal, he said.

The diplomatic source said some Arab states, however, attempted to add some provisions to give a form of legitimacy to the normalization deal. He did not name these countries.

“In response, Palestine presented a draft resolution that condemns the UAE-Israel normalization deal,” the source said. “The Arab countries, however, voted down the draft,” he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki called on the Arab countries to reject the UAE-Israel normalization deal.

On Aug. 13, the UAE and Israel announced a US-brokered agreement to normalize their relations, including opening embassies in each other's territory.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara