Israeli leader begins first-ever visit to UAE as Iran tensions rise

JERUSALEM: Israeli PM

Naftali Bennett

arrived in the UAE on Sunday and will meet its de facto ruler in the highest-level visit since the countries formalised relations last year. Bennett said he and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan would meet on Monday to discuss ways to bolster cooperation and strengthen economic and commercial ties.

There was no comment from Abu Dhabi on the visit, which comes at a time of heightened regional tension as world powers try to revive a

2015 nuclear deal

with Iran.

Israel

has broached setting up joint defences with Gulf Arab states that share its concern over Iran’ activities. Yet the UAE has also reached out to its

Iran

, sending its NSA to meet President Raisi.

Since August 2020, the UAE, followed by Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, have moved to normalise ties with Israel under the US-sponsored “Abraham Accords”.

Bennett’s UAE trip

is the first visit by an Israeli PM to any of those countries since the accords.