A tripartite statement to this effect was issued by the three nations during the current visit to the UAE by a top US-Israeli delegation, led by Jared Kushner, Senior Adviser to US President Donald Trump. Excerpts from it read thus:

“… The accord has initiated a historic breakthrough in normalizing ties between Israel and the UAE and has led to the suspension of Israel’s plans to extend its sovereignty. The United States and the UAE urge Palestinian leaders to reengage with their Israeli counterparts in discussions aimed at achieving peace.

“…Israeli and Emirati ministers, from foreign affairs to food security, have initiated their first official discussions on continuing and strengthening cooperation.
“…The UAE and Israel wish to express their gratitude for the overwhelmingly positive response to this historic accord from governments around the world….
“We hope and expect that in the near future our collective efforts will set in motion a cascade of positive changes, both large and small, that will put our respective peoples and the wider region on a solid path to security, prosperity and peace.”

On August 31, the joint US-Israeli delegation was received at the airport by Dr. Anwar Gargash, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, later met the delegation which includes US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and National Security Adviser and head of the Israeli National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat. Also present at the joint meeting was His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The meeting also addressed the trajectory of relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to enhance future collaboration in various fields to the benefit of both countries.

The joint delegation arrived in the UAE on board an Israeli commercial plane of El Al airlines, the first to land on the country’s soil since the declaration of the peace accord.

Upon landing in Abu Dhabi, Meir Ben-Shabbat read his first statement to the media in Arabic starting with the Islamic greeting “As-salamu alaykum” meaning “Peace be upon you”.

“…We are here to turn a vision into a reality,” he told the reporters in Arabic. “There are no limits for improvement in many fields like innovation, tourism, aviation, agriculture, energy and many others.”

Ben-Shabbat, who has been Israel Prime Minister’s national security adviser since 2017, read his second statement in Hebrew.

Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump’s chief Middle East adviser, highlighted the fact that the UAE in 2019 celebrated “Year of Tolerance” and hosted Head of Catholic Church, Pope Francis, who became the first-ever pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula.

“And this year they welcomed Israel,” Kushner said. “I want to thank His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces for his leadership and courage. He is truly leading the new Middle East.”

The delegation will depart Abu Dhabi on September 1.

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Both leaders emphasised their commitment to fulfil the provisions of the peace treaty and promote peace and regional development.

Meanwhile, the Emirates company APEX National Investment signed a strategic commercial agreement with the Israeli TeraGroup to develop research and studies on COVID-19.

The agreement aims at conducting and enhancing research and studies related to the disease as well as developing a testing device for speeding up the COVID testing process, and providing it with high accuracy in accordance with best international practices.

APEX National Investment is an investment company in the field of public investments, including the healthcare sector with a dedicated focus on establishing field hospitals at maximum speed and equipping them with the necessary high-standard equipment.
Established in 2003, TeraGroup branched out of the distinguished Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. It focuses on fast and safe, one-minute COVID-19 breathing tests using Tera sensing, which guarantee immediate, cost-effective results.

TeraGroup’s BioSafety testing is conducted in selected countries around the world, including the Emirates Field Hospital in Abu Dhabi, with plans to expand the testing to cover the entire UAE.

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