UAE businessman in talks with Israir to begin flights for tourists
Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor, one of the ten richest people in Dubai, called the normalization deal with Israel an "opportunity" for both tourists and businessmen.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFIsrair(photo credit: DAVIDI VARDI VIA THE PIKIWIKI - ISRAEL FREE IMAGE COLLECTION PROJECT/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)
One of the UAE’s richest businessmen is said to be in talks with Israir Airlines to begin flights for tourists between the countries.Khalaf Ahmad al-Habtoor, one of the 10 richest people in Dubai, called the normalization deal with Israel an opportunity for tourists and businessmen.“I have many friends from Israel,” he told Channel 13 on Sunday. “I met them in Budapest, and we discussed mutual business. This is a great decision by the leaders of Israel and the leaders of the UAE. I can say that they really did something great. This is an opportunity for Israeli businessmen and tourists who want to visit because we have variety. This is a very rich country.”Habtoor said his company had begun initial discussion with Israir about commercial flights and charter flights for tourists.“My team is conducting negotiations, and I hope that we will reach an agreement that is good for both sides, for Israeli society and for Emirati society,” he said.Normalization of relations is an opportunity for Palestinian businessmen as well, Habtoor said.“I know the Palestinians during the time of Yasser Arafat wanted peace,” he said. “But sometimes there is, I call it, a theater play. But it’s a theater of losers, sadly.“I can promise that more than 70% of them want to work. I believe that there are many Palestinians or Arab-Palestinians in Israel that are very rich and own property, businesses, and they do great work. This is a work opportunity for them.”It is unlikely that Muslim extremists would try and impact the deal, Habtoor said, as they are “already not in a position of power. They’re weak and failing.”“The step being taken is very big and will really bring a significant change between our two countries, and soon additional countries will act like us,” he said.
