Reaction as ties open between UAE and Israel

Telephones began ringing Sunday between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, marking the first concrete step towards a peace agreement between the two countries.

For Dubai's small expatriate Jewish community, which has worshipped for years at an unmarked villa in this city-state, the calls represented much more than just the convenience of being able to directly dial loved ones in Israel.

Jewish community leader Ross Kriel described the prospect of full diplomatic ties as amazing news.

"There's a sense of a miracle upon a miracle upon a miracle, as all of these hurdles fall away and people at last can come together and start talking," he said.

He said isolating Israel for decades had not brought peace, so the UAE was right to look for new solutions.

Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced three days ago they were establishing full diplomatic relations in a US-brokered accord.

The agreement requires Israel to suspend plans to annex areas of the West Bank that the Palestinians seek as part of a future state.

(Representative Image)