First Israeli Airlines Flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi
El Al Israel Airlines’ flight to Abu Dhabi is considered the first significant step in implementing the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli media have called this flight historic. The aircraft will pass through Saudi Arabian airspace.
Two weeks after the surprise announcement of the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, on Monday, August 31 (September 10), an aircraft carrying a high-level Israeli and American delegation will land at Abu Dhabi Airport in a historic flight.
The French news agency reported in a dispatch from Tel Aviv that Jared Kushner, son-in-law and Middle East advisor to Donald Trump, as well as Meir Ben Shabbat, Israel’s national security advisor, will also be on the aforementioned aircraft heading to the United Arab Emirates.
The El Al Israeli airline aircraft is the first Israeli plane to land at Abu Dhabi Airport. Moreover, for the flight from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, this aircraft must pass through Saudi Arabian airspace. From this perspective, this is the first Israeli aircraft to enter Saudi Arabian airspace.
Purpose of the Historic Flight to Abu Dhabi
The peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates covers various areas of cooperation between the two countries. Therefore, it has been stated that various Israeli representatives will accompany this country’s national security advisor on this flight.
Among these, it has been stated that the two countries plan to cooperate in the fields of aviation, tourism industry, trade, medical and healthcare affairs, energy sector, as well as security matters.
It should be noted that the United Arab Emirates is the third Arab country, after Egypt and Jordan, to take steps toward normalizing its relations with Israel.
Netanyahu and Peace Agreement with Arabs
Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, said on Sunday, September 9 (August 30), after meeting with an American delegation at a press conference, that Israel had conducted “secret negotiations” with other Arab countries.
The Israeli Prime Minister stated that diplomatic efforts to sign a peace agreement with other Arab countries are underway.
The Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” also published a detailed report on conversations between Jared Kushner, Middle East advisor to Donald Trump, with Israel’s president and defense minister.
Netanyahu, addressing Kushner on the eve of the flight to Abu Dhabi, said: “Palestinians have long had the right of veto over a peace treaty between Israel and the Arab world. If we had to wait for them for such a matter, we would have to wait forever.”
Jared Kushner also spoke again of Donald Trump’s Middle East peace plan as a realistic and fair plan and, addressing Palestinians, stated, “If you are willing to reach a peace agreement, this opportunity is now available for you.”
Kushner also praised the courage of Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, and called him a “forward-looking leader.” Donald Trump’s Middle East advisor has evaluated the peace agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel as a model for other Arab countries.
Source: DW
