Israel PM Naftali Bennett to visit UAE in October, media reports

Newly-appointed Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett plans to visit the United Arab Emirates in October to strengthen bilateral relations between the occupation state and the Arab country, local media reported.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the delegation that accompanied Foreign Minister Yair Lapid during his visit to the Gulf country earlier this week said that Emiratis are interested in strengthening cooperation with Israel “as soon as possible”, adding that Emirati officials are “very frustrated” about the lack of practical progress in bilateral relations in the ten months since the Abraham Accords were signed normalising ties between the two states.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had planned to visit the UAE in March, but that trip was cancelled reportedly over a dispute with Jordan regarding the use of its airspace for the trip.

On Tuesday, Lapid inaugurated the Israeli embassy in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, the first embassy for Israel in the Gulf, and a consulate in Dubai.

Last year’s normalisation deals signed by the UAE and Bahrain, followed by Sudan and Morocco, were denounced by Palestinians who claimed the states had abandoned a unified position under which Arab countries would make peace only after a two-state solution, negotiations for which have been deadlocked for years.

Abu Dhabi said the deal was an effort to stave off Tel Aviv’s planned annexation of the occupied West Bank, however, opponents believe normalisation efforts have been in the offing for many years as Israeli officials have made official visits to the UAE and attended conferences in the country which had no diplomatic or other ties with the occupation state.

Several bilateral agreements on investment, tourism, direct flights, security and telecommunications were signed following the peace deal.

READ: What more than surrender does the UAE want from Palestinian Authority?