US-UAE-Israel ties ‘a courageous step’, says tripartite statement

The UAE, US and Israel have reaffirmed that the August 13 accord reached by the three nations is “a courageous step towards a more stable, integrated and prosperous Middle East.”

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.