United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed has invited Prime Minister Naftali Bennett for his first official visit to the Gulf state, which established relations with Israel last year.
The invitation came via an official letter delivered by UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja, who met with Bennett at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday along with Bahraini Ambassador to Israel Khalid Al Jalahma.
Bennett and the ambassadors discussed deepening relations between the countries and strengthening the Abraham Accords.
“The stronger the relations between our countries get, the stronger the security and stability for the entire region,” Bennett said.
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid visited the UAE in June, dedicating Israel’s embassy in the capital, Abu Dhabi, and a consulate in Dubai.
Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who signed the Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain, did not visit any of the four countries that normalized relations with Israel.
He planned to travel to the UAE several times, but the trips were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, political considerations and, in one case, a dispute with Jordan, which threatened to block his flight.