Jerusalem (CNN) — For the first time in history, an Israeli prime minister made an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at his private palace in Abu Dhabi on Monday (13), according to Bennett’s office.
The meeting and lunch lasted two hours longer than planned.
The event marks a historic and symbolic change in relations between the two countries, 15 months after they signed a normalization agreement at the White House.
In the photo provided by the Government Press Office of Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, left, meets Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at the private palace in Abu Dhabi.
A few years ago, Israelis were not even allowed to enter the UAE.
Now the prime minister is received with an official honor guard at the airport.
According to WAM, the UAE state news agency, the two leaders discussed areas of “bilateral cooperation” such as “agriculture, food security, renewable energy, advanced technology, health and other vital sectors.”
Bennett had already highlighted the growing commercial ties between his country and the UAE in an interview with WAM.
But there was no mention in the agency’s article related to the interview about tensions with Iran.
“The volume of mutual trade has accelerated in just a few months, with unlimited future opportunities to develop it. Israel, like the UAE, is a regional trade hub.
Our cooperation offers unprecedented economic opportunities not just for us, but for more countries, which is another element in increasing stability and prosperity in this region,” said Bennett.
The Israeli leader mentioned security cybernetics, health, education and aviation as four areas where the two countries were enjoying fruitful trade and investment, wrote the WAM.
Although none of the leaders mentioned the name, the Will it is the priority of both nations, a shared security concern.
The Israeli government views Iran and its nuclear ambitions as an existential threat and continues to declare it is ready to solve the problem on its own to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
They see the Emirates as an important strategic partner in the face of the Iranian threat.
For the Emirates, the relationship with the neighbor is more nuanced.
Last week, a UAE security official visited Tehran, meeting new Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, the first visit by an UAE official in five years.
A Bennett spokesman declined to comment on Israeli media reports that the prime minister presented the crown prince with evidence that Iran is deploying militias and unmanned aerial vehicle units (drone), just saying that “they discussed a wide variety of issues”.
Reference: CNN Brasil
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