Posted on 08/16/2020 7:52:45 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Telephone service between the United Arab Emirates and Israel began working Sunday as the two countries opened diplomatic ties, part of a deal brokered by the U.S. that required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex West Bank land sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
Emirati officials acknowledged Sunday that Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan had called his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.
Israeli Communications Minister Yoaz Handel issued a statement “congratulating the United Arab Emirates on removing the blocks.”
“Many economic opportunities will open now, and these trust-building steps are an important step toward advancing states’ interests,” Handel said.
Also Sunday, Israeli news websites that had previously been blocked by UAE authorities, like the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post and YNet, could be accessed without using means to bypass internet filtering in the Emirates.
In the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, a recorded message in Arabic and English would typically play prior to Sunday saying calls to +972 numbers could not be connected. The advent of internet calling allowed people to get around the ban, though these too were often interrupted.
Some in Israel used Palestinian mobile phone numbers with +970 numbers, which those in the UAE could call.
The connection of phone service represents the first concrete sign of the deal between the Emiratis and Israelis.
Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced Thursday they were establishing full diplomatic relations in the U.S.-brokered accord.
The historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken traditional Arab support for the Palestinians.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
If this wasn’t a Trump accomplishment, it would be making news constantly. I love all this background winning. A lot of people see it too and know the MSM is fake news.
In the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, a recorded message in Arabic and English would typically play prior to Sunday saying calls to +972 numbers could not be connected. The advent of internet calling allowed people to get around the ban, though these too were often interrupted. Some in Israel used Palestinian mobile phone numbers with +970 numbers, which those in the UAE could call.
“If this wasn’t a Trump accomplishment...”
“Can you hear me now?”
“Hello? Israel? Is your fridge running?”
Must be for business deals. Not like there would be family or friends in the other country.
bookmark
Well ok, but the the hell would you call there in the UAE?
“Who ya gonna call?”
“Must be for business deals. Not like there would be family or friends in the other country.”
I was thinking the same. But, I suspect that this is mostly symbolic.
I suspect a defense accord will be in the making shortly where Israeli jets can make emergency landings in Arab countries, be refueled or shipped home. Another driver to all of this diplomacy is that Iran has scared the expletive out of some of the smaller Gulf States.
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More winning.
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