The UAE Cabinet has ratified the landmark Abraham Accord, cementing the agreement to build full diplomatic ties with Israel.
The Cabinet, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, approved plans to issue a federal decree approving the historic accord.
In a statement on the UAE Government's Twitter account, the Cabinet outlined its confidence that the agreement will bolster peace and stability in the region and pave the way for the nations to forge closer ties across economic and cultural sectors.
مجلس الوزراء برئاسة محمد بن راشد يعتمد قراراً بالمصادقة على #الاتفاق_الإبراهيمي_للسلام، معاهدة السلام والعلاقات الدبلوماسية الكاملة بين دولة #الإمارات العربية المتحدة ودولة إسرائيل، ويوجه بالبدء في الإجراءات الدستورية لاستصدار مرسوم اتحادي بالتصديق على الاتفاق. #حكومة_الإمارات pic.twitter.com/OE5u5I5ufN
— UAEGOV (@uaegov) October 19, 2020
The UAE and Israel signed the Abraham Accord at a ceremony held at the White House last month.
At the ceremony, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Bahrain Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani signed agreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump.
Earlier this month, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, met his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi in Germany in a further demonstration of a growing partnership being forged in the weeks since the milestone agreement was signed.
Sheikh Abdullah said he hoped the improved relations would provide “new impetus toward stability and peace” in the Middle East.
“The Middle East has entered a new era towards security and prosperity after the signing of the peace treaty with Israel,” Sheikh Abdullah said at the time.
“We have participated with Germany and Israel in promoting the values of tolerance in our countries."
An Etihad Airways aircraft arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday for the first commercial passenger service by a Gulf airline from Israel to the UAE.
Flight EY9607 touched down at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport at about 7am local time, flying UAE and Israeli flags, and was scheduled to set off for Abu Dhabi about three hours later.
Etihad described the inaugural flight by a 787 Dreamliner as a “travel-trade mission”.
