Palestinians talked of being "blindsided" after Thursday's surprise announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump of a deal to normalize relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denounced Israel's accord with the United Arab Emirates in a statement issued by his spokesman on Thursday night.

Wasel Abu Yousef, a senior member of the Palestinian liberation movement denounced the Emirate's move saying that thinking the UAE's deal with Israel will stop the annexation is wrong, and describing the deal as a stab in the back to the Palestinian people by the UAE.

For Israel and the White House, it signified a welcome rapprochement with a key Gulf player in a region from which Israel has long been isolated, aside from two peace treaties with its immediate neighbours Egypt and Jordan.

The deal provides a diplomatic achievement for Netanyahu after weeks of domestic criticism over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the economy, but also angered right-wing Israeli settlers who want to annex the West Bank.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/7271999/israel-uae-donald-trump/

Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc
Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ
Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt
Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB
#GlobalNews