The Palestinians no longer have veto power over peace efforts between Israel and the Arab world, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Sunday at a joint press conference in Jerusalem with White House aide Jared Kushner and U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien.
"I think for too long the Palestinians have had a veto on peace, not only between Israel and the Palestinians but between Israel and the Arab world," the prime minister said.
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L-R: U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, PM Benjamin Netanyahu and White House aide Jared Kushner speak in Jerusalem on Sunday
(Photo: GPO)
"If we had to wait for the Palestinians, we’d have to wait forever [but] no longer," he said.
"The day will come, and it won't be far away, when we will ask: how could it have been any other way?" Netanyahu said.
"Because today's breakthroughs will become tomorrow's norms. It will pave the way for other countries to normalize their ties with Israel."
Kushner and O'Brien will on Monday be passengers on the first direct commercial flight between Israel and the UAE, which comes just weeks after the two countries announced an agreement for normalized ties.
El Al flight LY971, a number that includes the UAE international dialling code, will depart from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi on Monday. Flight LY972, which includes the Israeli international dialling code, will make the return journey on Tuesday.
Netanyahu on Sunday also heaped effusive praise on U.S. President Donald Trump for his Middle East peace efforts, calling the administration's so-called "deal of the century" the first realistic plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
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The word peace is painted in English, Hebrew and Arabic on the El Al flight bound for the UAE on Monday
(Photo: El Al )
The prime minister said he was willing to negotiate peace on the basis of the Trump plan, adding that "as more Arab and Muslim countries join the circle of peace," the Palestinians would be "hard pressed to remain outside the community of peace."
Kushner, who later met with President Reuven Rivlin praised United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed as a "courageous visionary," saying his decision to normalize ties with Israel will be "an inspiration for the Middle East."
"We worked to defy the odds and achieve something few thought was possible," Kushner said, referring to the breakthrough accord expected to be signed in the coming weeks.
Ripping into the Obama administration's Middle East legacy, he said that the Trump plan showed the world that "Israel is ready to make peace" -- as regional players take note.
Preceding Kushner's address, O'Brien mentioned Iran's "unprecedented" economic crisis due to sanctions imposed by Washington.
"It means it [Tehran] doesn’t have a budget to fund its proxy forces," he said, referring to Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Syria and Lebanon's Hezbollah.