ISRAELI Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is received by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at his private palace in Abu Dhabi.—Reuters
ISRAELI Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is received by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at his private palace in Abu Dhabi.—Reuters

ABU DHABI: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Abu Dhabi’s crown prince on Monday during the first visit by a leader of the Jewish state to the United Arab Emirates, over a year after the two countries established ties.

Bennett’s visit comes as Israel pursues a diplomatic push against international nuclear talks in Vienna that could ease sanctions on its arch-foe, Iran.

He was received by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at his private palace, where they exchanged greetings before heading inside for talks.

The visit comes 15 months after the wealthy UAE broke with decades of Arab consensus and forged diplomatic ties under a series of US-brokered deals known as the Abraham Accords.

Jewish leader says his visit reflects a ‘new reality’ for the Middle East

Bennett, who arrived late on Sunday and was expected to focus on trade links, according to his spokesperson, said his visit reflected a “new reality” for the Middle East.

“In my opinion, this is... the new reality this region is witnessing, and we are working together to ensure a better future for our children,” he told the UAE’s official WAM news agency.

Israel is also stepping up its diplomatic efforts against the renewed talks in Vienna with Iran, over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme. Bennett has called for the talks to be halted, accusing Tehran of “nuclear blackmail” and charging that it will use any revenue from sanctions relief to bolster a military arsenal that can harm Israel.

On Thursday, global powers began meetings with Iran in Vienna aimed at reviving a deal to curb the nuclear programme after former US president Donald Trump pulled out in 2015.

Ahead of the talks, the UAE’s national security adviser met Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran, a rare trip by a senior Emirati official.

Last chance

The Israeli prime minister will also meet the UAE’s technology and culture ministers during his visit, and he spoke of “limitless future opportunities” to develop trade.

“Israel, like the UAE, is a regional hub for trade. Our cooperation provides unprecedented economic opportunities not only for us, but for more countries,” he said.

The UAE last year became the third Arab nation to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel after Egypt and Jordan, and was swiftly followed by Bahrain and Morocco.

Sudan also agreed to normalise relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, but full relations have not yet materialised.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.