BICOM

The Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Israel, as the two countries mark the two-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords. He met with Prime Minister Lapid and President Herzog as well as visiting Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum.

During a joint press conference, Lapid stated that it would advance the regional architecture the countries have been building. He added that “this is a visit of a strategic partner that will strengthen economic and security ties between our countries. This is a visit of a close and dear friend, with whom I can talk about everything”

Lapid “Together, we are changing the face of the Middle East. We are changing it from war to peace, from terrorism to economic cooperation, from a discourse of violence and extremism to a dialogue of tolerance and cultural curiosity.”

Al Nahyan added: “I think in many ways this is a relationship which very few thought that in two years it would be as successful. I hope this relationship continues to be useful, exciting, but more importantly,” that it is “a relationship where Emirates and Israelis feel the benefit and feel the joy.”
Herzog held an official luncheon for the foreign minister. “The world looks at the Abraham Accords with awe and respect, and says there’s a new Middle East in many ways, being created and moving forward,” he said.

Al Nahyan toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum, where he laid a wreath in the Hall of Remembrance in honour of the six million Jews killed in the Nazi genocide. Bin Zayed was the first Arab leader to lay a wreath at Yad Vashem since the visit of former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat 45 years earlier.
“My presence here today reminds us of the lessons that history teaches us and the great responsibility we have to practice tolerance for the sake of building our communities and societies,” he wrote in the guestbook. “We must take brave steps to build a bridge of real peace for future generations.”

Context
On September 15, 2020, the historic Abraham Accords were signed between Israel and the UAE, and Bahrain. Morocco and Sudan joined the agreement shortly after.
Al Nayan was last in Israel in March for the Negev Summit along with Bahraini, Moroccan, Egyptian and US counterparts, where they agreed to form a regional forum to discuss regional issues. The foreign ministers launched six different working groups aimed at boosting regional cooperation on security, education, health, energy, tourism, food and water.

Since the agreement’s signing, over 150 meetings have taken place between security officials in the region. Ten 10 joint exercises have occurred, and $3 billion in defense industry cooperation has been signed.

Earlier this year Israel signed a free-trade agreement with the UAE, which is expected to reach $2.5 billion in trade by the end of the year. Half a million Israelis have visited the UAE during the past two years, and there are approximately 7 to 8 flights per day between the two countries.
Former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner recently expressed his “disappointment” over the lack of new Abraham Accords countries, claiming that before Trump left office the administration had been engaged in conversations with six more potential members.

Looking ahead
The two countries will seek to further boost their bilateral ties. Lapid said that they had not even scratched the surface of the potential for cooperation in the fields of economy, food security, energy, water, cyber, and security. These are likely to be a focus going forward.
Israel also sees great benefit in the creation of regional architecture which can help provide a balance against the threats from Iran. The UAE is considered a key component of such a policy.