Telephone service begins between UAE and Israel as ties open

Telephone service between United Arab Emirates and Israel began working on Sunday as two countries opened diplomatic ties, part of a deal brokered by US that required Israel to halt its contentious plan to annex West Bank land sought by Palestinians for a future state.

Associated Press journalists in Jerusalem and Dubai were able to call each or from both landline and cellular phones registered to Israel's country code +972 from around 1:15 p.m.

Over an hour later, Emirati officials ackwledged that Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan h called his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.

Israeli Communications Minister Yoaz Handel issued a statement “congratulating United Arab Emirates on removing blocks.” “Many ecomic opportunities will open w, and se trust-building steps are an important step toward vancing states' interests," Handel said.

Also Sunday, Israeli news websites that h previously been blocked by UAE authorities, like Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post and YNet, could be accessed without using means to bypass internet filtering in Emirates.

In UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on Arabian Peninsula, a recorded mess in Arabic and English would typically play prior to Sunday saying calls to +972 numbers could t be connected.

vent of internet calling allowed people to get around ban, though se too were often interrupted.

Some in Israel used Palestinian mobile phone numbers with +970 numbers, which those in UAE could call.

connection of phone service represents first concrete sign of deal between Emiratis and Israelis.

Israel and United Arab Emirates anunced Thursday y were establishing full diplomatic relations in U.S.-brokered accord.

historic deal delivered a key foreign policy victory to President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election and reflected a changing Middle East in which shared concerns about archenemy Iran have largely overtaken tritional Arab support for Palestinians.

Palestinians say it puts a just resolution of Middle East conflict even farr out of reach by undermining an Arab consensus that recognition of Israel only come in return for concessions in peace talks. That removes a rare source of lever for Palestinians.

agreement will make UAE third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to have full, active diplomatic ties with Israel. countries anunced it in a joint statement, saying deals between Israel and UAE were expected in coming weeks in such areas as tourism, direct flights and embassies.

Early Sunday, Emirates' state-run WAM news ncy anunced a UAE company h signed an agreement with an Israeli company for research and study of coronavirus pandemic.

move has sparked anger among some who see it as a betrayal of longstanding efforts to establish an independent state of Palestinians. In Pakistan, hundreds of Islamists rallied Sunday to deunce Emirati-Israeli deal.

Jamaat-e-Islami party chanted slogans against United States and burned effigies of President Donald Trump. y also set ablaze American and Israeli flags.

deal also has enrd Iran and Turkey, regional rivals to UAE.

On Sunday, chief of staff of Iran's armed forces called UAE's decision a “disaster.” Mohamm Hossein Bagheri urged Abu Dhabi to “revise” its position.

"If an incident happens in Persian Gulf and violates national security of Islamic Republic of Iran, even a tiny bit, and we see it from UAE, we will t tolerate it,” Bagheri said.