BERLIN/BRUSSELS — German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has welcomed the treaty to establish "diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel".

The German top diplomat issued a statement today, hailing the treaty as 'historic'. "I have just spoken to Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi on the telephone and offered him my congratulations on this historic step.

“The normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates is an important contribution to achieving peace in the region. It is good that the Israeli Government has agreed to suspend its annexation plans," he said.

"We hope that this agreement will be the starting point for further positive developments in the region and that it can also inject fresh impetus into the Middle East peace process. We continue to maintain that only a negotiated two-state solution can bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

“Together with our partners in Europe and the region, we have been working intensively in recent months to prevent an annexation and to support the resumption of direct negotiations. We are also prepared to lend our active support to this process," added the statement.

The German government's spokesperson, Steffen Seibert, likewise expressed hope the treaty would pave the way to renew negotiations over the two-state solution.

Belgium welcomes normalization

of relations between UAE, Israel

The Kingdom of Belgium Friday welcomed the "rapprochement between Israel and the UAE, facilitated by the US, as a step towards peace in the region".

In a statement, Philippe Goffin, the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Defense, said: "The announcement of the suspension of annexation plans is a step in the right direction, but should be converted into a definitive measure."

He added that lasting peace in the region rests on "a 2-state solution based on international law and internationally agreed parameters." — WAM