Italian MP from far-right League Party nominates Netanyahu for Nobel Prize over UAE normalisation agreement

An Italian MP from the far-right Northern League Party has nominated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a Nobel Prize due to the recent normalisation deal his country agreed with Gulf states the UAE and Bahrain.

MP Paolo Grimoldi put Netanyahu's name forward for the illustrious peace prize on Wednesday, whose past winners include Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa.

He said he was nominating the right-wing Israeli premier due to the controversial normalisation agreement agreed with the autocratic Gulf nations.

"Among the many actions undertaken by Mr. Netanyahu, I will mention the three main ones which are very important for world peace: the peace agreement with the Emirates, the peace agreement with the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the development of 'a real in-depth dialogue with Saudi Arabia,'" Grimoldi said, according to Israeli media.

"All these efforts have led to the opening of Saudi airspace to Israeli planes. All these achievements were not conceivable a few months ago. For that, Mr. Netanyahu deserves to be laureate of the Nobel Peace."

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) September 11, 2020" style="color:#fff;" class="twitter-post-link" target="_blank">Twitter Post "Donald #Trump has once more been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the #US brokered normalisation deal between #Israel and the UAE" https://t.co/Jz65kQXmiy — The New Arab (@The_NewArab) September 11, 2020

The announcement comes a day after Netanyahu met with Bahraini and Emirati officials to ink the US-brokered accord in the White House.

Netanyahu will have to fight it out with US President Donald Trump, who was also nominated for the prize for his role in the UAE-Israel normalisation agreement.

The UAE and Bahrain deals walk back on a pact by Arab states in 2002 that normalisation with Israel should only be agreed when an independent Palestinian state is established.

While Abu Dhabi claimed the accord with Israel prevented Israel from following up plans to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories, there was no mention in the text of the agreement released this week.

Israel continues to occupt the West Bank and continues its expansion of settlements in defiance of international law.

Israel and the UAE have had unofficial relations for decades, with relations improving dramatically under the leadership of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed and Netanyahu.

Under President Donald Trump, the US has also been keen to promote ties between Israel and Gulf states.

Netanyahu is a controversial figure even in Israeli politics, dogged by corruption allegations and with domestic allies in the far and religious-right.

The Israeli premier has also formed alliances with the far-right in Europe, including the Italian League Party.