Prime Minister Naftali Bennett landed in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday afternoon.
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According to the Prime Minister's Office, the primary reason for the one-day visit to Abu Dhabi was Bennett's desire to personally convey his condolences to President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the death of his brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, last month.
President Isaac Herzog embarked on an official condolence visit to the UAE – Israel's partner in the Abraham Accords alongside Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan – soon after Sheikh Khalifa's death was announced.
Arriving at the UAE, Bennett was received by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed. He is expected to meet with the Emirati ruler later in the day in his private palace.
The PMO said the two leaders will discuss "a host of regional issues," including the Iranian threat.
Ahead of his departure, Bennett said, "I am about to travel to the UAE to express to the royal family my and the Israeli public's condolences on the death of President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, who helped pave the way for a partnership between Israel and the Emirates.
"I will meet with President Mohamed bin Zayed – a visionary and a brave leader. Together, we will build another tier in the special relationship forged between our peoples, for the sake of their security and prosperity."
This is Bennett's third meeting with the UAE leader and his second visit to Abu Dhabi. The first took place in December and was the inaugural visit by an Israeli leader to the Gulf kingdom. He met with bin Zayed in March, in Egypt.
Bennett had invited bin Zayed to visit Israel and the then-crown prince accepted. While no official date has been set, officials in both countries are said to be hammering out the details.
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