Work teams across all customs centres continued to process cargo clearance and inspections
When asked about the Palestinian opposition to the accord, Dr Gargash said the UAE is committed to the two-state solution. "By linking to the agreement to the suspension of annexation, we came out with a good deal," he said.
"Our position was to negotiate. Annexation was a real threat on the ground," the minister said, adding that Palestinians need to "negotiate and engage".
On the UAE's role in the peace process, the minister said the UAE will not negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians. "The final shape of whatever emerges will be decided by Israelis and Palestinians."
He said it is the UAE's legitimate right to modernise and upgrade its defence capabilities and the request to acquire the fighter jet made by Lockheed Martin is not a new one.
"We have legitimate requests that are there. We ought to get them... the whole idea of a state of belligerency or war with Israel no longer exists."
"The UAE expects that its requirements will be accepted and we feel that with the signing of this peace treaty in the coming weeks or months... any hurdle towards this should no longer be there," Dr Gargash said.
He said UAE is very much interested in areas like agriculture, food security, medical research and telemedicine as some of the shortlisted areas. In the same breath, the minister said "there is a lot to do" to facilitate travel of individuals, logistics, banking facilities.
"We are committed... as part of the international consensus on the two-state solution, and any embassy will be in Tel Aviv. So that is quite clear," the minister said during a virtual session with the Atlantic Council Front Page. "The whole idea of suspending annexation, giving space and opportunity for negotiating the two-state solution, you know... it is evident where our embassy will be."
But Iran has to acknowledge that its "belligerent regional policies" have created friction not just with the UAE but also with Arab countries and beyond, said the minister.
Reiterating the UAE's stand on the Isreal peace accord. Dr Gargash said: "The deal is not targeted at Iran, nor because of Iran. It is about the UAE and supporting the two-state solution... not about creating some sort of front against Iran."
While he expressed happiness about the overwhelming support for the accord from US President Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden, the minister said opposition from some polarising factions were expected.
"This polarisation is reflective of the polarisation before the announcement. But no new line has been redrawn as a result of the UAE's decision to normalise relations with Israel," said the minister, referring to the hostile reactions from countries like Iran and Turkey to the peace deal.
Work teams across all customs centres continued to process cargo clearance and inspections
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