Prime Minister Naftali Bennett started the primary official go to by an Israeli chief to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, looking for to strengthen Gulf ties at a time of heightened regional rigidity as world powers attempt to revive a nuclear cope with Iran.
Bennett, a far-right politician who took workplace as the pinnacle of a broad Israeli coalition authorities in June, plans to carry talks on Monday with the UAE’s de facto chief, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan.
The diplomatic outreach comes as world powers negotiate with Iran on salvaging a 2015 nuclear deal opposed by Israel and deserted in 2018 by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Since August 2020, the UAE, adopted by Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, have moved to normalise ties with Israel beneath a U.S.-sponsored initiative dubbed the “Abraham Accords” after the biblical patriarch revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims.
Bennett’s UAE journey is the primary by an Israeli premier to any of these nations because the accords.
On arrival in Abu Dhabi after a flight from Tel Aviv, Bennett was welcomed by an honour guard and the UAE’s overseas minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.
“What a wonderful reception. I am very excited to be here on behalf of my people (on the) first official visit of an Israeli leader here,” Bennett mentioned. “We are looking forward to strengthening the relationship,” he added.
Israel has broached establishing joint defences with Gulf Arab states that share its concern over Iranian actions. Pursuing financial, well being and vitality ties with its new ally, the UAE has signed dozens of memorandums of understanding with Israel because the Abraham Accords have been signed.
Yet the UAE has additionally reached out to its Iran, sending its senior nationwide safety adviser there final Monday to fulfill his Iranian counterpart and President Ebrahim Raisi.
A flight-tracking app confirmed Bennett’s El Al Israel Airlines airplane overflying Saudi Arabia, which doesn’t have formal ties with Israel, en path to Abu Dhabi. Riyadh agreed final 12 months to permit Israel-UAE flights to cross its territory regardless of the absence of official ties.
The rapprochement within the Gulf has been condemned by Palestinians, whose diplomacy with Israel stalled in 2014.