In what during normal times would be big news, maybe the lead news story in the world, Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced that they will normalize relations and the UAE will recognize Israel.
The UAE becomes the first Gulf Arab nation to recognize Israel. Until now, Israel has signed treaties and exchanged diplomatic relations with only two Arab nations, Egypt and Jordan.
Bilateral treaties will be signed on economic, cultural and a range of issues between the two countries in coming days. In return, Israel has agreed to abandon its plans to annex parts of the West Bank, formerly Arab territory it has occupied after repulsing an attack in a previous war.
Based on this agreement, it appears that what Israel wants simply for its neighbors to recognize that it has a right to exist. Can it really be that simple of a first step?
