Saudi, Emirati and other Arab media give positive coverage to UAE-Israel peace talks

The front pages of numerous Arab newspapers on Tuesday provided surprisingly positive coverage of the peace talks underway in Abu Dhabi.

Israeli and American diplomatic teams are engaged in two days of talks to finalize a peace deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, and prepare for a White House signing ceremony, expected later this month.

Striking was the prominent and positive coverage in several Saudi publications, given that Saudi government officials have been tempered in their public comments about the deal thus far.

The front-page of the Saudi Gazette showed a photo of the El Al Israeli plane in Abu Dhabi with the headline, “Dawn of a new era in Mideast.”

Online and satellite coverage in Saudi Arabia and several other Gulf states has also been remarkable supportive.

Consider just a sampling of the headlines in the past 24 hours.

• “UAE-Israeli accord a courageous step toward more stable, integrated, prosperous Middle East” (Saudi Gazette)
• UAE, Israel and US say peace accord will prevent future conflicts (Arab News / Saudi Arabia)
• US-Israeli delegation lands in Abu Dhabi on historic flight (Arab News / Saudi Arabia)
• Historic Israel-UAE flight arrives in Abu Dhabi with delegation led by Jared Kushner (Al Arabiya / Saudi Arabia)
• The UAE-Israel deal gives Saudi Arabia a new opportunity (opinion column in Al Arabiya / Saudi Arabia)
• UAE on ‘a courageous’ path to a stable region with Israel (The National / UAE)
• UAE-Israel accord a bold step for Middle East peace (Khaleej Times / UAE)
• Historic Day: First Israeli flight lands in UAE (Khaleej Times / UAE)
• Abu Dhabi crown prince says committed to Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital (Al Ahram / Egypt)
• US-Israeli delegation lands in Abu Dhabi on historic flight: Saudi Arabia allows ‘historic’ flight to cross its airspace (Jordan Times)
• United Arab Emirates repeals law imposing Israel boycott (Jordan Times)

As expected, Iranian, Turkish and Qatari media outlets and commentators have been almost uniformly hostile to the UAE’s decision to make peace with Israel.