Israel and the United Arab Emirates moved Thursday to build official diplomatic ties right after Israel agreed to suspend a strategy to annex sections of the occupied West Bank, in a dramatic U.S.-backed change that signaled Israel’s warming ties with Gulf Arab states.

“The historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Center East region,” explained a joint assertion from Israel, the U.S. and the U.A.E. that praised “the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the terrific opportunity in…