UAE and Israel cabinets approve Abraham Accord

Our Correspondent

The UAE Cabinet has approved a resolution to endorse the Abraham Accords Peace Agreement and full diplomatic relations between the UAE and the State of Israel. The meeting was chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
Constitutional procedures to issue a Federal Decree ratifying the peace accord will be initiated as directed by the Cabinet. It expressed confidence that the agreement will be a tributary of peace and stability that supports the aspirations of the peoples of the region.

The agreement is expected to stimulate cooperation in the economic and scientific fields.
On October 12, Israel’s Cabinet had approved the peace agreement; it was followed by Israeli parliament approving the treaty on October 15 by a vote of 80 in favour and 13 against.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have agreed to meet soon.
“At the weekend, I spoke with my friend, the Crown Prince … and invited him to visit Israel,” Netanyahu said. “He invited me to visit Abu Dhabi. But first, we will see a UAE delegation here and another one of our delegations will go there.”

In early October, Israel signed an aviation agreement with Jordan that will allow flights from the UAE and Bahrain to fly through Israeli airspace.

Bahrain signs peace deal with Israel

Meanwhile, at a ceremony in Manama on October 18, Bahraini and Israeli officials signed a “joint communiqué” establishing full diplomatic relations. The two countries are now expected to open embassies.

Following the signing in the presence of US officials, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani said he hoped for “fruitful bilateral co-operation in every field” between the two nations.

The Israeli delegation, which flew through Saudi airspace on an El Al Israel Airlines chartered flight from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, was accompanied by US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.