UAE and Israeli health ministries to cooperate on the coronavirus
"The Emirate health minister is a true partner of Israel," Health Minister Yuli Edelstein said.
By HANNAH BROWNA woman waits to be tested by medical staff wearing protective equipment, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at the Cleveland Clinic hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, April 20, 2020.(photo credit: REUTERS/CHRISTOPHER PIKE)
Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and UAE Health Minister Abdul Rahman Ben Muhammad al-Avis agreed on Monday on the first act of health cooperation between the countries.Each ministry will appoint a coordinator responsible for communicating with the other country, with an emphasis on the common struggle against the coronavirus. This is the beginning of the collaboration Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said would follow when he signed a peace deal with the UAE earlier this month.According to Worldometers, the UAE has 67,282 cases of the virus and 362 deaths. It has a population of 9.6 million.The health ministers said the cooperation was “excellent news for our countries.”In addition, the two are already setting up delegations of businesspeople from both countries to start a joint business. Once the coronavirus crisis ends, the countries will also work toward creating student exchanges.Edelstein said, “Peace with the United Arab Emirates provides an excellent opportunity for the citizens of Israel and the United Arab Emirates to forge a close bond that will bear fruit for both sides. The Emirati health minister is a true partner of Israel. Israel has a friend in the Emirates!”The prime minister spoke enthusiastically at a Sunday night press conference about the peace deal, saying there was now “a new era of peace in the Middle East. Several days ago, I was moved to see a girl in the UAE wearing a shirt with the flags of Israel and the UAE, and I was moved to see another girl in the UAE playing ‘Hatikvah.’ Who would have believed it?”
