ABU DHABI
\nIsraeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Abu Dhabi\u2019s crown prince on Monday during the first visit by a leader of the Jewish state to the United Arab Emirates, over a year after the two countries established ties.
\nBennett\u2019s visit comes as Israel pursues a diplomatic push against international nuclear talks in Vienna that could ease sanctions on its arch-foe, Iran.
\nHe was received by Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan at his private palace, where they exchanged greetings before heading inside for talks.
\nThe visit comes 15 months after the wealthy UAE broke with decades of Arab consensus and forged diplomatic ties under a series of US-brokered deals known as the Abraham Accords.
\nBennett, who arrived late on Sunday and was expected to focus on trade links, according to his spokesperson, said his visit reflected a \u201cnew reality\u201d for the Middle East.
\n\u201cIn my opinion, this is… the new reality this region is witnessing, and we are working together to ensure a better future for our children,\u201d he told the UAE\u2019s official WAM news agency.
\nIsrael is also stepping up its diplomatic efforts against the renewed talks in Vienna with Iran, over the Islamic republic\u2019s nuclear programme. Bennett has called for the talks to be halted, accusing Tehran of \u201cnuclear blackmail\u201d and charging that it will use any revenue from sanctions relief to bolster a military arsenal that can harm Israel.
\nOn Thursday, global powers began meetings with Iran in Vienna aimed at reviving a deal to curb the nuclear programme after former US president Donald Trump pulled out in 2015.
\nAhead of the talks, the UAE\u2019s national security adviser met Iran\u2019s President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran, a rare trip by a senior Emirati official.
\nLast chance
\nThe Israeli prime minister will also meet the UAE\u2019s technology and culture ministers during his visit, and he spoke of \u201climitless future opportunities\u201d to develop trade.
\n\u201cIsrael, like the UAE, is a regional hub for trade. Our cooperation provides unprecedented economic opportunities not only for us, but for more countries,\u201d he said.
\nThe UAE last year became the third Arab nation to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel after Egypt and Jordan, and was swiftly followed by Bahrain and Morocco.
\nSudan also agreed to normalise relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, but full relations have not yet materialised.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ABU DHABI Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met Abu Dhabi\u2019s crown prince on Monday during the first visit by a leader of the Jewish state to the United Arab Emirates, over a year after the two countries established ties. Bennett\u2019s visit comes as Israel pursues a diplomatic push against international nuclear talks in Vienna that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-232936","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n