[ad_1]
Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett landed within the United Arab Emirates on Thursday for talks with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, following a free commerce deal signed final month.
Bennett’s second go to to UAE because the nations normalised relations in a US-brokered 2020 deal additionally comes after the UN atomic vitality company censured Iran for non-cooperation.
There was no prior announcement of the journey, which Bennett’s workplace described as a “snap go to” that may contact on “varied regional points.”
Talking earlier than leaving Israel, Bennett hailed the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company for its movement condemning of Iran, authorised by 30 members of the IAEA board of governors, with solely Russia and China voting towards.
“We see right here a agency stance by the nations of the world concerning the excellence between good and evil, as they clearly state that Iran is concealing issues,” Bennett mentioned, based on an announcement from his workplace.
Concern about Iran, together with its alleged nuclear programme, was extensively considered as issue that led UAE to forge ties with Israel.
The free commerce settlement signed by the 2 nations final month — Israel’s first with an Arab state — abolished customs duties on greater than 95 p.c of merchandise exchanged between the 2 sides.
Two-way commerce final yr totalled some $900 million {dollars}, based on Israeli figures.
The UAE was the primary Gulf nation to normalise ties with Israel and solely the third Arab nation to take action after Egypt and Jordan.
Talks for a free commerce settlement started in November and concluded after 4 rounds of negotiations.
Thursday will mark Bennett’s first assembly with Sheikh Mohamed since he assumed the presidency following the loss of life of half brother Sheikh Khalifa final month.
Bennett and Sheikh Mohammed met twice final yr, in Abu Dhabi and in Egypt.
[ad_2]
Source link