China will continue to play positive and constructive role in supporting the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and hopes relevant parties take concrete actions to bring the Palestinian issue back to the track of dialogue and negotiation on an equal footing at an early date, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian during Friday's press conference.

He made the remarks when asked to comment on the normalisation of ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

"China is happy to see measures that will help ease tensions among countries in the Middle East and promote regional peace and stability," Zhao said, stressing that China's position on the Palestinian issue is consistent and clear.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday pulled off a rare victory for U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East ahead of his November 3 re-election bid by helping to broker a deal between the country's allies Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

"This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region. All three countries face many common challenges and will mutually benefit from today's historic achievement," read a joint statement from Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed.

The news follows a long thaw in hostilities between Israel and the UAE, even though the two sides did not have formal diplomatic relations.

The joint statement outlined an immediate plan for cooperation in various sectors between the two countries, including the development of a vaccine for COVID-19.

"Delegations from Israel and the United Arab Emirates will meet in the coming weeks to sign bilateral agreements on investment, tourism, direct flights, security, telecoms, energy, healthcare, culture, the establishment of reciprocal embassies, and other areas of mutual benefit," the statement said.

Following the announcement, Netanyahu hailed it as "a historic day for the State of Israel."

Bin Zayed said "the UAE and Israel also agreed to cooperation and setting a roadmap towards establishing a bilateral relationship."

Trump says 'HUGE breakthrough'

Soon after he sealed the agreement by phone, Trump called it a "HUGE breakthrough" on Twitter and told reporters other similar Middle East deals were in the works.

"Everybody said this would be impossible," he said.

"After 49 years," Trump added, "Israel and the United Arab Emirates will fully normalize their diplomatic relations. They will exchange embassies and ambassadors, and begin cooperation across the board and on a broad range of areas, including tourism, education, healthcare, trade and security."

The chance to play global statesman was compelling for Trump, who trails in public opinion polls ahead of what is shaping up as a tough election battle against Democratic challenger Joe Biden and who has struggled to contain the coronavirus pandemic that has battered the U.S. economy.

Trump has been unable to negotiate what has been billed as the "deal of the century" between Israel and the Palestinians, and a peace plan he proposed in January that heavily favored the Israelis has not advanced in any significant way. On the contrary, it has caused widespread condemnation and criticism. 

Speaking at a press conference hours after the deal was announced, Trump said he would host the signing ceremony at the White House in around three weeks' time.

Israel to pause annexation plans

Under the deal, Israel said it has agreed to suspend the annexation of Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank, while it focuses on expanding ties with other Arab countries.

The Netanyahu government's West Bank annexation plans had been an uncomfortable development for Washington, seen by many as a possible death knell to the U.S. peace plan.

Asked how long Israel might suspend its annexation plan, U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman said it was unclear but that the administration wanted to give other countries in the region a chance to seal similar agreements with Israel.

"We've prioritized peace over the sovereignty movement but it's not off the table. It's just something that will be deferred until we give peace every single chance," he told reporters.

UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said that the agreement with Israel was done to address the threat that further annexation of Palestinian territories posed to the two-state solution.

Friedman and a UAE representative were on hand at the White House ceremony when Trump unveiled the accord.

Responding to the deal, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said Israel had to either choose a just peace that ends the occupation and resort to the two-state solution, or continue a conflict exacerbated by Israel's violations of legitimate Palestinian rights.

Various other leaders moved swiftly to hail the deal, including Egyptian President Adel Fattah al-Sisi who said: "I value the efforts of those in charge of this agreement in order to achieve prosperity and stability for our region."

Israel's decision to suspend its planned annexation of areas of the occupied West Bank is a "positive step", French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement, adding that the suspension "must become a definitive measure."

The accord paved the way for a resumption of talks between Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of establishing two states, he said, calling it "the only option" to achieve peace in the region.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement: "The secretary-general welcomes this agreement, hoping it will create an opportunity for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to re-engage in meaningful negotiations that will realize a two-state solution in line with relevant UN resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements."

Palestine 'rejects and denounces' the deal

The Palestinian presidency however described the agreement as "disgraceful," considering it a "blow to the Arab Peace Initiative and the decisions of the Arab and Islamic summits, and an aggression against the Palestinian people."

The presidency recalled its ambassador to Abu Dhabi over the move.

In a televised statement following an urgent leadership meeting chaired by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the presidency said it rejected linking the suspension of Israel's annexation plan to any normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE or any other nation.

It warned other Arab countries against "bowing" to U.S. pressure and following in the footsteps of the UAE, saying this provides "free normalization with the Israeli occupation at the expense of Palestinian rights."

"The Palestinian leadership rejects what the United Arab Emirates has done and considers it a betrayal of Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause. This deal is a de facto recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," said Abbas's spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh.

Iran and Turkey lashed out at their regional rival the United Arab Emirates on Friday over its decision to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel in a U.S.-brokered deal, accusing it of betraying the Palestinian cause.

Iran's Foreign Ministry called the deal a "dagger that was unjustly struck by the UAE in the backs of the Palestinian people and all Muslims." Turkey said the peoples of the region "will never forget and will never forgive this hypocritical behavior" by the UAE.

(With input from agencies)