O’Brien in Israel after Morocco-Israel normalization, says more to come
There is speculation that Oman and Indonesia would be next.
By TOVAH LAZAROFFUpdated: DECEMBER 13, 2020 17:51Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seen meeting with US National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien on December 13, 2020.(photo credit: AMOS BEN-GERSHOM/GPO)
More Israeli-Arab normalization deals will follow the one arrived at with Morocco over the weekend, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said on Sunday in Jerusalem when he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The momentum is now on the side of the peacemakers,” O’Brien said adding that, “others will follow because the way of peace is far better than the way offered by terrorists... and radical clerics.”The US-brokered deal with Morocco, is the fourth one to fall under the rubric of the Abraham Accords. Israel has ratified two normalization deals, one with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain and is working on finalizing details with Sudan.“Peace deals are becoming a regular event,” O’Brien joked. There is speculation that Oman and Indonesia would be next.“Nations in the region are putting aside old ideas and old grievances and embracing a better future,” O’Brien said. O’Brien noted that the normalization agreement with Morocco was particularly special because so many Israelis “trace their ancestry through Morocco, so as big as these other deals have been, this is a special deal.”Netanyahu thanked Trump and his team for the work they have done to bring the deals to fruition.“Under President [Donald] Trump, the United States and Israel are working together closer than ever before,” Netanyahu said.He joked that in light of the four deals with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, “Israelis now are faced with a great dilemma. Where to go? Dubai or Morocco? Abu Dhabi or Morocco?“I'm sure we'll resolve that one. We'll go to both,” Netanyahu added.
Both he and O’Brien also referenced Trump’s peace plan with the Palestinians, which the Palestinians have rejected and which is largely believed to be frozen, particularly given that it is unlikely an agreement could be finalized with the Palestinian Authority before the end of the Trump administration in January.“President Trump put forward the most serious and realist plan for peace, the most detailed Palestinian plan ever presented, one that proposes a realistic two-state solution while fully addressing Israels security concerns,” O’Brien said.Netanyahu added, “I think down the line it will be the only plan that will be implemented.”
