Donald Trump has attempted to use the signing of Israel’s historic deal with the United Arab Emirates to bolster support amongst his Evangelical base at home.

Speaking on Thursday night, the US President said: “Christians have been persecuted by some countries in particular in the Middle East. This [the UAE deal] is a big start, It is going to be a strong start, a very powerful start.”

The president also attempted to clarify some of the confusion with regard to any Israeli plans to annex portions of the West Bank.

He said: “Israel has agreed not to do it. More than off the table, they have agreed not to do it.

"I think that very important. I think it was a great concession by Israel, I think it was a smart concession.”

He added, however, that although he could not guarantee what would happen in the future, “right now it is off the table.”

President Trump claimed that protecting Christians in the Middle East would also be a component of future deals that would be signed between Israel and other countries in the region.

He added: “If you look at the way Christians have been treated in some countries, it is beyond disgraceful. If I had information and if I had absolute proof of some of the stories we have heard, which is not easy to get, I would go in and do a number to those countries, like you would not believe.

“As countries come in, the UAE has agreed very strongly to represent us, I think will, very well, with respect to Christianity, because in the Middle East it is not treated well. It is treated horribly and very unfairly,”

He said that Christianity “is a very big part of the overall negotiation.”

On Thursday in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that as a result of the deal, annexation had been delayed but would remain on the agenda.