UAE President Vows To Enhance Ties With Israel In Call With PM Netanyahu

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has reaffirmed the UAE's vow to strengthen diplomatic ties with Israel. In a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, he assured Netanyahu of the UAE's unwavering commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region and enhancing its relations with Israel.

During the call, Sheikh Mohamed described the UAE's ongoing cooperation with Israel as a "strategic approach" to peace and development and confirmed the country's resolve to further enhance its ties with Israel in keeping with the Abraham Accords, the signing of which in 2020 paved the way for the formal establishment of relations between the two nations.

Sheikh Mohamed noted that the Abraham Accords offer an effective framework to help deepen bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Israel. He also underscored the UAE's efforts to work in partnership with Israel across various fields and sectors, saying their bilateral ties were instrumental in achieving peace and development in the region.

The UAE President also pointed to the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement which the UAE and Israel entered into on April 1, which enabled businesses to take advantage of a wide range of benefits, including greater market access, an open and non-discriminatory environment for cross-border trade, online consumer protection, and more.

Sheikh Mohamed further shared his vision for this year's COP28, which the UAE will host at the Expo City Dubai from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. During the call, he reiterated the UAE's commitment to delivering a successful event later this year and collaborating with Israel and other countries in the region on climate action.

He also assured the Israeli Prime Minister that the UAE would continue to work with Israel and fellow Arab nations to shun regional upheaval and promote peace and stability in the region. He also confirmed that the UAE would continue supporting initiatives aimed at realizing these goals.

The UAE and Israel have collaborated across various sectors since the signing of the Abraham Accords, including security and tourism, the economy, and trade. In 2021, the UAE named its first envoy to Israel and opened an embassy in Tel Aviv.