Israel’s PM meets crown prince on historic UAE visit

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
met Abu Dhabi’s crown prince 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.

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
ultraconservative 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 ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords,
but full relations have not yet materialised.

The agreements were negotiated by Bennett’s predecessor, Benjamin
Netanyahu, who said they would offer Israel new regional allies against Iran
and bolster its diplomatic efforts to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear
weapons.

Iran claims it only wants to develop a civilian nuclear capability but
Western powers say its stockpile of enriched uranium goes well beyond that,
and could be used to develop an atomic weapon.

On Sunday, the G7 grouping of the world’s richest nations warned time was
running out to renew a deal with Iran.

The Vienna talks were Iran’s “last chance to come to the negotiating table
with a serious resolution”, said Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, from G7 host
Britain.
AFP