Kushner: UAE-Israel ties are 'writing the script for a new Middle East'

A US-Israeli delegation landed in Abu Dhabi on Monday to discuss a new era of civil and economic co-operation following the signing of a landmark peace agreement between Israel and the UAE.

Led by Senior White House advisor Jared Kushner, who is US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, the delegation of American and Israeli officials arrived to a a red-carpet welcome at Abu Dhabi International Airport as they disembarked the first commercial flight from Tel Aviv to the UAE.

Written on the side of the plane over the cockpit was the word “peace” inscribed in Arabic, English and Hebrew, symbolising the normalisation of relations between the UAE and Israel, which agreed to suspend its annexation of parts of the Palestinian West Bank in the Abraham accord signed on August 13.

Describing the visit as a “historic breakthrough,” Mr Kushner expressed hope that this “will be the first of many” such flights. “There is great urgency between the people of both countries to break down old barriers, to get to know each other, to form new and hopefully very deep friendships,” he said.

The US-mediated deal made the UAE only the third Arab country to enter full relations with Israel in a move that Mr Kushner hailed on Monday as “writing the script for a new Middle East.”

Previously, only the Egypt and Jordan have signed peace treaties with Israel but Washington has indicated that more Arab national may now follow suit.

The El Al flight, numbered LY971 after the UAE’s international calling code number, was granted permission to fly through Saudi Arabia’s airspace, though the Kingdom maintains a boycott of Israel.

Alongside Mr Kushner, the American delegation included national security adviser Robert O’Brien and his Israeli counterpart national security adviser Meir Ben-Shabbat with other top officials.

“We came here in broad daylight and before the eyes of all in a plane bearing the flag of Israel along with our American friends,” Mr Ben-Shabbat said. “Israel and the UAE have much in common. Our region is full of challenges and threats. But we have the strength and the ability to stand against them.”

During the two-day visit, officials will explore bilateral cooperation in areas such as commerce and tourism “in preparation for the signing of co-operation agreements in the civil and economic fields”, Israel said. Israeli defence envoys are due to visit the UAE separately.

Israeli officials hope the two-day trip will produce a date for a Washington signing ceremony, perhaps as early as September, between Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.