The Observer view on the ‘historic’ Middle East breakthrough | Observer editorial

Last week's agreement to normalise relations between Israel and the UAE does nothing to solve the Palestine impasse

The principal authors of last week's agreement to normalise relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates - Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan - have strong personal reasons for hailing it as a historic" breakthrough. Yet any rapprochement built on the ruins of Palestinian hopes of an independent state is suspect and fragile. This flawed deal may yet come to be seen as a historic mistake.

The US president lost no time in claiming credit. Trump is heading towards a November election that he is widely expected to lose. A helping hand from any quarter is welcome to a drowning man. Despite much sound and fury since 2017, notably over North Korean and Afghan peace talks, Trump lacks a signature foreign policy success. His Israel-Palestine deal of the century" fell flat. So now he trumpets this new pact as a great achievement.