image The unseen signatories to Mideast deals are Lockheed and Boeing. Photo: Flash90

Knesset approves Israel-UAE deal

Israel’s Knesset has officially approved the agreement to establish formal relations with the United Arab Emirates.

The U.S.-brokered deal known as the “Abraham Accords” was signed between the Middle East countries in a ceremony at the White House on 15 September.

80 Israeli lawmakers voted in favor of the deal, with 13 opposed.

The parliamentary ratification follows unanimous approval by the cabinet on Monday.

The next stage of formalizing the Abraham Accords will come when the UAE government will issue an official decree once the agreement has been approved by the country’s Federal Cabinet.

Israel and Bahrain, which signed a “declaration of peace” at the White House ceremony last month, are still discussing details of a full accord.