UAE Cabinet ratifies Abraham Accord
ETIHAD PLANE LANDS IN ISRAEL AS AVIATION TIES TAKE OFF
The UAE Cabinet yesterday approved an agreement to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel on the eve of the first official visit by a government delegation to Israel.
The Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has approved a resolution to endorse the Abraham Accord Peace Agreement and full diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel, WAM reported.
The Cabinet statement said the Abraham Accord would be “an avenue of peace and stability to support the ambitions of the region’s people, and enhance efforts for prosperity and advancement, especially as it paves the way for deepening economic, culture and knowledge ties.”
Abraham Accord would be an avenue of peace and stability to support the ambitions of the region’s people, and enhance efforts for prosperity...”
Cabinet statement
Deal on commercial flights
Earlier in the day, the first ever passenger flight from the UAE to Israel landed near Tel Aviv. Etihad Airways flight EY 9607 from Abu Dhabi landed at Ben Gurion airport with only crew on board. The plane picked up Israeli tourism professionals, whowould be flying to the UAE for a two- day trip visit organised by Israeli company Maman Group .
Also yesterday, Israeli irrigation company Netafim has agreed to open an office in the UAE, WAM said, under one of four deals announced yesterday.
The UAE and Israel will ink a deal today to allow 28 weekly commercial flights between Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Israel’s Transportation Ministry has said.
Yesterday, they reached a bilateral agreement that will give incentives and protection to investors.
Support to Palestinians
Meanwhile, the UAE reaffirmed its continued commitment to supporting Palestinians. During a meeting with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, discussed cooperation with the agency to help improve the lives of the Palestinians.
Etihad Airways became the first Gulf- based carrier to operate a commercial passenger flight to and from Israel, by bringing Israel’s top travel and tourism leaders to the UAE. The historic flight, flown in partnership with the Maman Group, departed Tel Aviv yesterday.
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft was used for the threeanda- half- hour journey from Israel to the UAE. The return journey will depart Abu Dhabi tomorrow.
‘ Historic opportunity’
The flight brought a group of tourism industry leaders, key corporate decision makers, travel agents, and cargo agents, along with media personnel to experience Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.
“Today’s flight is a historic opportunity for the development of strong partnerships here in the UAE, and in Israel, and Etihad as the national airline, is delighted to be leading the way,” Mohammad Mubarak Fadhel Al Mazroui, chairman of Etihad Aviation Group, said in a statement.
“We are just starting to explore the long- term potential of these newly forged relationships,
which will be sure to greatly benefit the economies of both nations, particularly in the areas of trade and tourism, and ultimately the people who call this diverse and wonderful region home.”
This is the latest development in a growing cooperation between the two nations following the establishment of diplomatic ties, and the signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington on September 15. Israel’s national airline El Al’s made a first symbolic flight between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi on August 31.
The flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi will also carry commercial cargo sourced from, and destined for, points across Etihad’s global network, in addition to commercial guests. Etihad also becomes the first non- Israeli airline in the Middle East to launch a dedicatedwebsite for the Israeli market in Hebrew.
It was reported earlier yesterday that a total of 28 weekly flights are expected between UAE and Israel.
Ticket prices are subject to supply and demand, says aviation analyst Brendan Sobie. “Given therewill be several airlines flying between Israel and the UAE, there should be significant supply.”