Israel is hosting the foreign ministers of the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Bahrain on Sunday during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to the region.
The Arab dignitaries landed on Sunday in Israel for an unprecedented regional summit between Israel and its neighbours, hosted by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in the southern Negev Desert.
Mr Blinken was also set to attend after finishing his meetings in Jerusalem.
The UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, said in a tweet addressed to Mr Lapid that he was "happy with the friendship and working towards peace and development".
This is Sheikh Abdullah’s first visit to Israel. He held a meeting with Mr Lapid on Sunday, the UAE state news agency Wam reported.
They discussed “issues of mutual concern” on the regional and global stage including the crisis in Ukraine.
Sheikh Abdullah thanked Israel for the “warm welcome and stressed the joint will between the two countries to strengthen the relationship and expand their partnership” in line with Abraham Accords.
He also repeated the need for reinforcing regional peace and stability.
The UAE’s ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja, also attended the meeting.
Iran was expected to dominate the summit's agenda as regional powers are looking to increase their defence and security co-ordination.
Israel fears that a nuclear deal with Tehran will strengthen Iran's destablising hand in the region.
The summit reflects the geopolitical changes in the region after the Abraham Accords, in which the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco made peace with Israel in 2020.
It fosters a new diplomatic front in the face of increasing regional threats.
On Monday, the foreign ministers will hold bilateral working meetings focused on security co-operation.
Mr Blinken repeated on the eve of the summit that Iran will not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and that the security of the Middle East is best served with Iran tied into a deal that ensures such goal.
A revived nuclear deal “is the best way to put Iran’s nuclear programme back in the box that it was in but has escaped from since the United States withdrew from that agreement” in 2018, Mr Blinken said in Jerusalem.
“But whether there’s a [nuclear deal] or not, our commitment to the core principle of Iran never acquiring a nuclear weapon is unwavering.”
Iran with a nuclear weapon “would become even more aggressive and would believe it could act with a false sense of impunity”, he said, alongside Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.
On Saturday, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he believed a deal could be struck in “a matter of days”.
“Now we are very close to an agreement and I hope it will be possible,” Mr Borrell said.
Iran’s neighbours fear any relief from economic sanctions could embolden the regime to step up its attempts to destabilise the region through its proxies.
Israel believes the deal does not include enough protection against Iran developing nuclear weapons.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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