The Israeli embassy in the United Arab Emirates has officially opened. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) attended the inauguration of the diplomatic mission in Abu Dhabi. He praised former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) as the "architect of the Abraham Accords" with several Arab states.
“This is a historic moment,” Lapid said at the ceremony, according to a statement from the State Department. “And it serves as a reminder that history is made by people. People who understand history but are willing to change it. People who prefer the future to the past.”
Israel and the Emirates have decided: “Peace instead of war. Cooperation instead of conflict.” The Israeli minister added: “What we are doing here today is not the end of the road, but the beginning. From here we set out on our journey.”
Replace hostility with friendship
Lapid emphasized that his country belongs to the Orient: “Israel wants peace with its neighbors. With all neighbors. We are not going anywhere. The Middle East is our home. We are here to stay. We call on all countries in the region to recognize this and to talk to us.” Problems and hostility will not disappear on their own. “People can replace them with friendship, generosity, and the pursuit of common good.”
The foreign minister thanked Emirati Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed for their vision and inspiration. He then added: “On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was the architect of the Abraham Accords and who worked tirelessly to bring them about. This moment belongs to him no less than to us.” He thanked former US President Donald Trump and his successor Joe Biden “for their unwavering support.” Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain signed the agreements in Washington in September.
Meeting with Israeli journalists
It was the first official visit by an Israeli minister to the Emirates since the signing of the agreement. Lapid also met with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan. He then held a press conference with Israeli journalists, where he said: "Ultimately, the Palestinians themselves must have the will to move forward so that someone else can come in and help them. That is not currently the case." He expressed confidence that the Emirates would play a positive role, provided there was a process with the Palestinians.
According to a report in the online newspaper "Times of Israel," Lapid was impressed by the Emiratis, who he said had a deep understanding of Israel's security challenges. He was referring to statements made by Emirati representatives during Operation "Guardians of the Walls" in May. "You really have to understand the material to respond the way they did," he said
Consulate inaugurated
On Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid had another inauguration on his agenda. He opened a consulate in Dubai, which he said would serve as a center for dialogue and cooperation. The Emirati Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan al-Olama, was present at the ceremony. He stated that relations between the two countries would contribute to a more stable and secure region.
