Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday took off on a historic trip to the United Arab Emirates as part of a blitz of regional diplomacy against the backdrop of struggling nuclear talks with Iran. This is the first visit by an Israeli premier to the kingdom since it normalized ties with the Jewish state last year.
"In just one year since normalizing our relationship, we've already seen the extraordinary potential of the Israel-UAE partnership. This is just the beginning," Bennett said as he was about to depart. His plane landed at 8 p.m. Israel time. Upon his arrival Bennett released a statement saying he "appreciates your [UAE] warm hospitality and very excited to be here as the first Israeli leader to visit." He added that Israel "looks forward to deepening the ties between the countries."
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The Prime Minister's Office said that Bennett, who departed from Ben Gurion International Airport following Sunday morning's cabinet meeting, is scheduled to hold a one-day visit to Abu Dhabi.
He will meet with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE's de facto ruler, on Monday morning. The two will discuss a host of issues, including bolstering economic and military ties, the statement said.
Israel and the UAE had enjoyed clandestine security cooperation over their shared concern over Iran but formalized ties last year as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords.
"The leaders will discuss deepening ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, with an emphasis on economic and regional issues that will contribute to prosperity, welfare, and strengthening stability between the countries," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
Prime Minister Bennett, upon departure for the UAE, at the invitation of Crown Prince Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed:
"In just one year since normalizing our relationship, we've already seen the extraordinary potential of the Israel-UAE partnership.
This is just the beginning." 🇮🇱🤝🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/wzn0HBWthZ— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) December 12, 2021
Bennett's office further said that he will be flying to the UAE with only a handful of advisers and no journalists, citing concerns over the coronavirus, and particularly the Omicron variant.
The visit is seen as a part of regional diplomacy efforts to make sure the struggling nuclear talks with Iran don't end up with major concessions to the Islamic republic in a way that could threaten regional security.
Israel is not a party to the negotiations but is looking on with concern. In recent weeks, Israel has fanned out its top diplomat and its defense and spy chiefs to meet with allies in Europe, the US, and the Mideast to push for a firmer approach to Iran.
Israel says it is determined to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, while Tehran insists its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
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