UK foreign minister hails Abraham Accord as ‘key step towards regional stability’

Dominic Raab, on visit to Israel, affirms Britain’s support for Middle East dialogue

Britain’s Foreign Minister Dominic Raab on Tuesday welcomed the Abraham Accord to normalise ties between the UAE and Israel, as he met officials in Jerusalem and sought to convince the Palestinians to resume peace talks.

Arriving in Israel on Monday evening, Mr Raab met US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was on the first leg of a Middle East tour, for talks on Iran.

On Tuesday, Mr Raab met Israeli leaders including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then made the short drive to the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

“We are big supporters of the agreement to normalise relations with the United Arab Emirates,” he said in Jerusalem in a joint statement with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi. “It is a positive and important step.”

The two ministers discussed regional stability, including countering Iran’s destabilising behaviour in the region, and the situation in Lebanon.

"The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister Netanyahu also confirmed our mutual desire to further enhance UK-Israel trade by commencing scoping talks on a new free trade agreement and intensifying our collaboration in science and technology," a British Foreign Office representative said.

After meeting Mr Netanyahu, Mr Raab urged a return to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which have been stalled since 2014.

“I reiterated UK support for dialogue with Palestinians to achieve lasting peace through a viable two-state solution,” Mr Raab wrote on Twitter.

Mr Raab received a frosty welcome from Mr Netanyahu who chided his guest over the UK’s lack of support for a US effort to maintain an arms embargo and restore broader sanctions on Iran.

He told the UK minister “that he expects Britain to change its policy towards Iran and that it should join the American sanctions”, his office said.

In Ramallah, Mr Raab reaffirmed to Mr Abbas Britain’s opposition to the Israeli plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, which was suspended as part of the accord.

He called on the Palestinian leadership to resume co-operation with Israel and pursue negotiations.

The pair also discussed the twin challenges that Covid-19 and the Israeli occupation were placing on Palestinians.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the UAE and Israel’s decision to normalise relations “hugely good news” and said it was his “profound hope” that the planned annexation would not go ahead.

Mr Raab has described direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians as “the only route to lasting peace”.