'Salam, Shalom': UAE newspaper higlights similarities between countries

On Monday, Israeli and American officials flew to Abu Dhabi to meet with UAE officials in friendship, and to discuss further details within the agreement.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2020 07:52

Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, U.S. President's senior adviser Jared Kushner and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of United Arab Emirates Anwar Gargash hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates August 31, 2020. (photo credit: MINISTRY OF PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS/WAM/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS.) — Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, U.S. President's senior adviser Jared Kushner and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of United Arab Emirates Anwar Gargash hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates August 31, 2020.

(photo credit: MINISTRY OF PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS/WAM/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS.)

Emirati media outlets have reacted positively to the recent normalization deal much like their Israeli counterparts are, as evidenced by the front page of Tuesday's Khaleej Times, the United Arab Emirates' longest-running English daily newspaper, which featured a photo of Monday's historic meeting in Abu Dhabi under the headline "Salam, Shalom."

Take an early look at the front page of Khaleej Times: https://t.co/735ZLNq8hk pic.twitter.com/M8uhTydkk1
— Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) August 31, 2020

The photo of Monday's meeting featured Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash and US Senior Presidential Adviser Jared Kushner.

Beyond the etymological link between the Hebrew and Arabic words Salam and Shalom (which both have the multiple meanings: peace, hello and goodbye), the captions below the front page photo stress other similarities between the countries, ranging from financial interests to culinary similarities.

On Monday, Israeli and American officials flew to Abu Dhabi to meet with UAE officials and to discuss further details within the agreement. UAE officials are expected to fly to Washington in September to continue these talks.

The UAE's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed also said he wants to visit Jerusalem in person as he seeks a "comprehensive peace" with Israel, a senior UAE official told All Arab News on Tuesday.