Foreign Minister Yair Lapid arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, marking the highest-level visit by an Israeli official to the Gulf Arab state since the two countries signed a normalization deal in September 2020.
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Lapid landed at Abu Dhabi airport shortly after tweeting a picture of himself in a plane, with the caption: "Taking off for a historic visit to the UAE."
ממריא לביקור היסטורי באיחוד האמירויות. ?? pic.twitter.com/fkw7Ed4dfP
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid? (@yairlapid) June 29, 2021
In August 2020, former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and Israeli National Security Adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat made history flying to Abu Dhabi on an El Al plane from Israel.
Lapid was greeted at the airport by UAE Minister of State Ahmed al-Sayegh.
During the two-day trip, Lapid is scheduled to meet with several UAE ministers during his visit, including Emirati FM Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, State Minister for Economic Affairs Ahmed al-Sayegh, and Culture Minister Noura al-Kaabi.
Lapid's meeting with his Emirati counterpart is likely to include a discussion about Iran, which both countries view as a top regional threat.
עושים היסטוריה: גאה לייצג את מדינת ישראל בביקור רשמי ראשון באיחוד האמירויות. תודה על קבלת הפנים החמה. ?? ??
نصنع التاريخ: فخور بتمثيل دولة إسرائيل في أول زيارة رسمية إلى الإمارات العربية المتحدة. شكرا على الترحيب الحار pic.twitter.com/sxVXPYcghQ
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid? (@yairlapid) June 29, 2021
The Emiratis and Israelis had strong reservations about the nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration. Their shared concerns over Iran helped propel quiet ties and covert meetings long before they formally announced full diplomatic relations last year.
"Making history: Proud to represent the State of Israel on its first official visit to the United Arab Emirates. Thanks for the warm welcome," Lapid tweeted after his arrival.
Speaking at the dedication of the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi Lapid described the visit as a "historic moment" and thanked former PM Benjamin Netanyahu for his "vision" in the peace process.
"We are standing here because we chose peace over war," Lapid said. "Israel wants peace with all its neighbors. Israel isn't going anywhere, and the Middle East is our home. Peace isn't a compromise – peace is the victory of all that is good."
While in the Gulf, the foreign minister is also slated to dedicate the Israeli Consulate in Dubai, as well as meet with representatives of the local Jewish communities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Israeli Ambassador to the UAE Eitan Na'eh tweeted, "30 years as a diplomat, but to see the blue and white here at the Abu Dhabi airport, whilst waiting for the minister of foreign affairs to land – is exciting!
Lapid will also visit Israel's pavilion at the Expo 2020 world exposition. The World Fair will begin in October after a year's delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Lapid is also due to meet with members of the expatriate Jewish community residing in Dubai.
Economic cooperation between Israel and the UAE has flourished since the Abraham Accords were reached, with a flurry of business deals inked across multiple sectors, including healthcare, high-tech, defesne, and travel.
Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Lior Haiat told reporters after Lapid had departed for Abu Dhabi that the pace of bilateral cooperation between the two countries has been "unprecedented."
"There's been years of under-the-radar relations between Israel and the UAE, and we are now enjoying the fruits of the infrastructure of peace that we've built in the last decades," Haiat said.
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