President Isaac Herzog flew to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday to convey his condolences to the new UAE president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his family, and the Emirati people on the death of the country's former ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
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Sheikh Khalifa was the half-brother of Mohammed, often known as MBZ, who served as the UAE's crown prince.
Sheikh Khalifa, a pro-Western modernizer who had aligned the Gulf Arab state closer to the United States and its allies, died on Friday at the age of 73.
Khalifa has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2014, according to the report.
Herzog joined other world leaders gathering in the Gulf state to offer condolences and congratulate his successor.
Regional Cooperation Minister Issawi Frej and Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel were also representing Israel.
"I came here on behalf of the people of Israel, to express my condolences to you, to your family and to the Emirati people," Herzog said, according to a statement from his office.
Together with ministers @EsawiFr & @YoazHendel1, today I offered condolences on behalf of the State of Israel to new UAE President Sheikh @MohamedBinZayed on the death of his brother, the late UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed. pic.twitter.com/98tTElqIPH
— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) May 15, 2022
"Your brother, Sheikh Khalifa, was an extraordinary man. His brave leadership contributed tremendously to advancing his country and his people and to the partnership that materialized in recent years between our countries. The partnership which he advanced is an asset for us and for the entire region. His is a legacy of progress and of striving for peace in the Middle East."
Under Khalifa's term as president, the UAE and Israel normalized relations in the historic Abraham Accords, which were signed in Washington on Sept. 15, 2020.
"The UAE has lost its righteous son and leader of the 'empowerment phase' and guardian of its blessed journey," Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed said on Twitter, praising Khalifa's wisdom and generosity.
Other world leaders paying their respects included French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the king of Spain, Felipe VI.
US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were due in the UAE on Monday.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also traveled to the UAE to offer his condolences, as did Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, in his first visit since 2017 when the UAE and Saudi Arabia imposed a boycott on Doha.
Doha and Abu Dhabi had been for years locked in a bitter rivalry over the role of political Islam in the Muslim world. The rift was partially resolved last year.
Several Arab leaders paid respects on Saturday. Saudi Arabia's crown prince, whose father King Salman entered hospital a week ago, sent a delegation.
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