Ambassadors of UAE and Israel plant peace tree
WASHINGTON: In celebration of Earth Day, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to the United States and Israel’s Ambassador to the United States and the United Nations joined together to plant an olive tree and the seeds of closer cooperation to address the global climate challenge.
“Warmer relations will help get us to a cooler planet,” said Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the United States. “Normalisation is already accelerating climate cooperation between the UAE and Israel. These efforts in innovation, promotion and finance will help deliver the benefits of low-carbon, sustainable economic growth across the region and world.”
Israeli Ambassador to the USA and United
Nations Gilad Erdan said: “Now that the Abraham Accords have unlocked the tremendous potential for cooperation between our peoples, we can lead the way in developing the green technologies that will power a green economic recovery, for our countries, our region and the entire world. I believe that Israel, the UAE, and the United States, together with other Abraham Accords countries, and nations from across the Middle East, should establish a new regional forum for sustainable development, aimed at accelerating cooperation, sharing knowledge, and advancing innovative solutions to our shared challenges.”
Ambassador Princess Lalla Joumala of Morocco, Ambassador Dina Kawar of Jordan, Ambassador
Motaz Zahran of Egypt, and Deputy Chief of Mission Yousif Ahmed of Bahrain participated in the event at the UAE Embassy along with Ambassador Barbara Leaf, Senior Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the National Security Council. Also in atendance was Congressman Ted Deutch, Chairman for the Subcommitee on the Middle East, North Africa and Global Counterterrorism on the House Foreign Affairs Commitee.
“It is such an honour to stand here with my friends from around the Middle East and North Africa to plant an olive tree that represents the peace and growing friendship between Israel and its Arab neighbours,” said Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), a senior member of the House
Foreign Affairs Commitee. “Particularly as we mark Earth Day, we also celebrate the endless potential for multilateral green innovations that will make our world more sustainable for future generations.”
“You need strong roots to nurture peace across the Middle East. This tree symbolises the painstaking efforts of Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalise their relationship and work toward peace across their region” said Ambassador Leaf, who represented the United States at the ceremony. “The United States looks forward to stronger cooperation with the UAE and Israel on meeting the climate challenge.”