Prime Minister Yair Lapid today hosted the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, at the Prime Minister’s office in Jerusalem.
First, a one-on-one meeting was held, followed by an extended meeting from both sides.
The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Karin Elharar, National Security Advisor Dr. Eil Hulta, Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office Naama Schultz, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alon Oshfiz, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister General Avi Gil and Israel’s Ambassador to Abu Dhabi Amir Hayek. For their part, the Minister of State for International Cooperation, the Minister of Culture and Youth, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Israel participated.
The leaders further discussed strengthening relations between the countries for the benefit of regional stability, the prosperity of nations and security for all residents of the region. The two also discussed continued economic development and cooperation in the fields of agriculture, energy, water, food security and more. The two emphasized the desire to establish relations with other countries in these areas.
The Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister talked about the continuation of the Negev Forum process and the desire to deepen relations between the countries through this forum.
The two congratulated each other on the two-year anniversary of the Abraham Accords, and on the fact that the trade figures between the countries are expected to reach approximately 2.5 billion dollars by the end of 2022. This achievement is the result of hard work by governments and the private sector.
The Prime Minister presented Foreign Minister Ben Zayed with five Torah Pentacles translated into Arabic, in Rabbi Saadia Gaon’s version.
Below are the words of Prime Minister Yair Lapid in the joint statements:
“Your Highness, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, this is the historic visit of a regional leader who will promote the regional architecture that we have been building in the last year in the Middle East. This is the visit of a strategic partner, who strengthens the economic and security ties between our countries. This is the visit of a close and dear friend, with whom We can talk about everything.
My friend, we will indeed talk in this visit about everything. The cooperation between our countries is progressing at a dizzying pace. Just a month and a half ago, we both participated in an online meeting of the I2U2 initiative, together with President Biden, Prime Minister Modi and President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. An initiative of economic cooperation that was born at a dinner she hosted in Washington with Secretary of State Tony Blinken.
Before that, we met at the historic Negev summit, together with the foreign ministers of the United States, Bahrain, Morocco and Egypt. When we decided to arrange this meeting, you were the first phone call I made. I knew that if you came, the others would follow. This is exactly what happened and this, in my opinion, is the essence of leadership.
Before that, you hosted me in Abu Dhabi, when we opened the Israeli embassy there. Already there you defined our common goal: to turn the connection between the countries into a connection between people. To make the connection between the governments a connection between businesses. To make our peoples enjoy our relationship, and to let the natural entrepreneurship of our two great nations lead us forward.
We have made a big leap in the last year, but we still haven’t even scratched the surface of our potential for cooperation in all areas: in the economy, food security, energy, water, cyber and of course security.
Last January I was horrified, like every Israeli and like every civilized person in the world – by the criminal drone attack on your beautiful country. Israel stands by your side and with you in the face of every terrorist attack. Unfortunately, we have experience in this matter. We know how it feels, we know which country is behind it These attacks, and we also know how to respond and by what means.
My friend, we are changing the Middle East together. We move him from war to peace. From terrorism to economic cooperation. A messiah of violence and bigotry, to a dialogue of tolerance and cultural curiosity.
Are you aware that the word “peace” in Hebrew has two meanings – both HELLO and PEACE. So I wish you peace, and I wish us all peace. Welcome to Israel, my dear friend.”