United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to establish full diplomatic ties.

In a statement, the UN Chief said, the agreement will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two State-solution in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international laws and bilateral agreements.

He said, UN will continue to work with all sides to open further possibilities for dialogue, peace and stability. The Secretary General added that peace in the Middle East was imperative as the region confronts the grave threats of COVID-19 and radicalization.

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the UAE yesterday became the first Gulf country and the third in the Arab world to establish diplomatic relations with Israel as part of a deal to halt the controversial annexation of parts of the West Bank that Palestinians see as a part of their future state.

Close neighbours, Jordan and Egypt, are the only two other Arab states to have diplomatic ties with Israel under peace agreements that have weathered several storms over the decades to hold firm.