President Isaac Herzog kicked off the second day of his first official visit to the United Arab Emirates with a trip to Expo 2020 Dubai on Monday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The president and First Lady Michal Herzog were greeted with an honor guard reception at the exhibition's central plaza, where Israel's national flag was raised as "Hatikvah" played.
This year marks the first time that a World Expo is hosted in the Middle East, and Herzog delivered a speech at Israel's pavilion in which he lauded the cooperative opportunities presented by the event.
"This pavilion has provided a phenomenal taste of what we have to offer – from water tech and sustainable agriculture, to public health, to smart cities and ground-breaking solutions for a circular economy," he announced.
"It has also been a stage for the beautiful mosaic of cultures, faiths, music and arts that make up Israel's vibrant society. And it has been a practical display of cooperation between nations, of the future we can all imagine."
Herzog president referenced a number of collaborative opportunities with Abu Dhabi brought forth by the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The president praised the UAE for its "combination of an innovative spirit and forward-thinking approach, with deep respect for the glorious Muslim tradition," and hoped more countries would soon join Abu Dhabi in establishing ties and partnerships with Israel.
Herzog said he was proud of Israel's contribution to a shared future.
In the UAE, Herzog said, "obstacles turn into opportunities," and the impossible becomes a "tempting challenge."
The president noted that the Abraham Accords were intended not only to normalize relations but to create a "new tomorrow" for the next generation of Israelis and Emiratis, as well as the entire region.
Since the accords were signed, Herzog said, bilateral trade has surpassed $1 billion, with over 120 trade deals signed. Thus far, some 250,000 Israelis have visited the Emirates, he said, and Israel was waiting to welcome Emirati tourists when the COVID pandemic was over.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Monday saw that UAE intercept a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels. It was the third such attack in recent weeks.
The Office of the President said that the incident would not affect the visit.
Herzog met Sunday with Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and said the Israel "completely support your security requirements and we condemn in all forms and language any attack on your sovereignty."
Amjad Taha, the Bahrain-based regional director of the British Middle East Center for Studies and Research, who was in the UAE at the time of the incident, told Israel Hayom that "many [in the UAE] are displeased with the fact that the Biden administration did not have a forceful response to this attack.
"The attacks by the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, also target US interests. To tell the truth, the Biden administration's diplomacy has failed," he continued. "Today, there is little difference between the Houthis and the Hamas terrorist group."
i24NEWS contributed to this report
