Dubai: President of Israel Isaac Herzog He arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday on the first such visit, his office said, seeking to strengthen Gulf ties at a time of rising regional tensions as world powers seek to revive the nuclear deal with Iran.
The UAE, along with Bahrain, signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in 2020, dubbed the “Abraham Agreement”. The two Gulf states and Israel share similar concerns about Iran and its allied forces in the region.
UAE President Herzog’s plane took off over Saudi Arabia in what he said was “a very moving moment indeed”. Riyadh and Israel do not have diplomatic relations, but Israel has said it would like to establish ties with the state which is home to two of Islam’s holiest sites.
The presidency in Israel is a largely ceremonial post. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited the United Arab Emirates in December.
The President was received by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his arrival in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
“I will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates at the personal invitation of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” Herzog said earlier.
“I wish him well and I am grateful for his courage and courageous leadership, who concluded a peace deal with Israel and sent a message to the entire region that peace is the only option for the people of the region.”
President Herzog will also meet with Jewish communities in the United Arab Emirates, which is the region’s commercial and tourist hub.
On January 18, Israel offered security and intelligence support to the United Arab Emirates against further drone strikes following a deadly attack by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, according to a letter released on Tuesday by Israel’s leader.
The UAE, along with Bahrain, signed US-brokered normalization agreements with Israel in 2020, dubbed the “Abraham Agreement”. The two Gulf states and Israel share similar concerns about Iran and its allied forces in the region.
UAE President Herzog’s plane took off over Saudi Arabia in what he said was “a very moving moment indeed”. Riyadh and Israel do not have diplomatic relations, but Israel has said it would like to establish ties with the state which is home to two of Islam’s holiest sites.
The presidency in Israel is a largely ceremonial post. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited the United Arab Emirates in December.
The President was received by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his arrival in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
“I will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates at the personal invitation of Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” Herzog said earlier.
“I wish him well and I am grateful for his courage and courageous leadership, who concluded a peace deal with Israel and sent a message to the entire region that peace is the only option for the people of the region.”
President Herzog will also meet with Jewish communities in the United Arab Emirates, which is the region’s commercial and tourist hub.
On January 18, Israel offered security and intelligence support to the United Arab Emirates against further drone strikes following a deadly attack by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group, according to a letter released on Tuesday by Israel’s leader.
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