DUBAI: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed on Monday at latter’s private palace in the first-ever public meeting between an Israeli leader and the United Arab Emirates’ de facto ruler.
It marked the historic first official visit of an Israeli Prime Minister to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and comes 15 months after the signing of a normalization agreement between the two countries.
Releasing photographs of Bennett and Sheikh Mohammed smiling and shaking hands, the Israeli leader’s office described the meeting as “historic”.
Israel’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi Amir Hayek said the meeting focused on the issue of Iran, as well as advancing economic cooperation between the countries. While shared concern about Iranian activity was among the reasons for the diplomatic moves, the UAE has also been trying to improve relations with Tehran.
Israel’s ambassador declined to elaborate on any discussion of Iran but he told Israel’s Army Radio, “The prime minister did not only come here solely to address the Iranian issue.”
“The volume of mutual trade has expedited within a few months with limitless future opportunities to develop it. Israel, like the UAE, is a regional hub for trade. Our cooperation provides unprecedented economic opportunities not only for us, but for more countries, which is another element for enhancing stability and prosperity in this region,” Bennett is quoted as saying.
With world powers now trying to renew the Iran nuclear deal, Abu Dhabi last week sent an envoy to Tehran. A US delegation is due in UAE this week to warn Emirati banks against non-compliance with sanctions on Iran.
Iran is Israel’s arch-foe, but it has not been mentioned publicly by Bennett since he set off on Sunday for the first visit by an Israeli premier to UAE with pledges to promote bilateral commerce and other forms of civilian cooperation.
Israel last month broached setting up joint defences against Iran with Gulf Arab states. Hayek said military sales to UAE are in the works, though Israeli industry sources say advanced Israeli air defence systems have yet to be offered.
Israel-UAE bilateral trade in goods alone reached nearly $500 million so far in 2021 — up from $125 million in 2020 — and is expected to continue growing rapidly.
