Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday to meet the Gulf state’s de facto ruler, according to his spokesperson. This is the first visit to the UAE by an Israeli prime minister.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in the first public meeting between an Israeli politician and the de facto ruler of the UAE.
The topic of Iran, according to Israel’s envoy to Abu Dhabi, is on the agenda for their meetings, which comes after the formalization of Israel-UAE relations last year under a US-led regional effort.
The Israeli leader’s office praised the encounter as “historic,” releasing photos of Bennett and Sheikh Mohammed laughing and shaking hands.
With international powers attempting to resurrect the Iran nuclear deal, Abu Dhabi dispatched an envoy to Tehran last week. This week, a US delegation will visit the UAE to warn Emirati banks about non-compliance with Iran sanctions.
The Abraham Accords, a US-brokered deal, formalized relations between the two countries last year. The agreement has resulted in a slew of agreements spanning tourism, industry, and technology.
