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Israeli ambassador says deal builds trust between two countries and touts trade, tourism and investment
Amir Hayek, Israeli Ambassador to the UAE, said the signing of the Abraham Accords builds trust and boosts diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE.
In an exclusive interview, Khaleej Times Hayek, Israel’s first ambassador to the UAE, said the signing of these agreements has created strong diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE, building trust and pride in trade, tourism and investment.
Hayek, who assumed the role of special envoy in October 2021, said on Friday that the achievements of the UAE and Israel over the past two years showed that the Abraham Accord is a very important agreement, not just worded or signed. “The agreement is about execution,” he said
Israel and the UAE are celebrating the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords signed on September 15, 2020.
“In the past two years, Israel and the UAE have had a lot to be proud of, including opening up diplomatic missions in both countries, which we haven’t had in the past,” he said.
“In the past 11 months, the Israeli President has visited us twice and the Israeli Prime Minister has visited the UAE twice. We also have about 20 visits by Israeli ministers to the UAE.
“Israel and the UAE have signed around 20 agreements and memorandums of understanding, including the important Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).”
He said the CEPA agreement signed earlier this year would deepen trade and investment ties, accelerate growth and usher in a new era of peace, stability and prosperity in the Middle East.
The UAE became the first Arab country to normalize relations with Israel since Jordan in 1994. The official Israeli embassy in the UAE opened in June 2021, while the UAE opened its embassy in Tel Aviv on July 14.
Trade between the two countries has reached $1.41 billion in the first seven months of 2022, compared with $1.22 billion in 2021, Hayek said. “We expect trade in goods between the UAE and Israel to exceed $2 billion by the end of 2022,” he said.
Israel trades with 126 countries and the UAE currently ranks 19th in bilateral trade, the ambassador said. He said that within three years, he expects the UAE to be among the top 10 countries to trade with Israel.
According to Hayek, an estimated 450,000 Israeli tourists have visited the UAE in the past two years, and thousands of Emirati tourists have been welcomed by Israel.
“I am satisfied with the numbers, and this is just the beginning. Tourism is one of the most important tools for building human-to-human relationships. I hope more people from both countries visit and get to know each other and understand each other’s cultures,” He says.
Hayek noted that the UAE and Israel are moving in the right direction and will continue to do so as Israeli companies see the UAE as a growth engine for their industry and economy. “I also believe that Israeli companies and Israeli technology can be a growth engine for the UAE economy. It is a win-win situation that will lead to better economic ties and cooperation between the two countries,” he said.
The ambassador said Israel is ready to cooperate with the UAE in all areas that could have economic impact on the UAE, the region and the world. “These could include renewable energy, water, food safety and food technology, ag technology, medical devices and telemedicine, distance learning transportation, finance, and more.”
Israeli-Palestinian relations
Asked whether the Abraham Accords could play a role in bringing peace to Israel, Hayek said Israel was keen to make peace with Palestine. “But Israel will always put the safety of its citizens first,” he said.
“In order to advance and quell dissatisfaction between Israelis and Palestinians, we must first build trust.”
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The ambassador said he believed the two sides could improve relations by improving the Palestinian Authority’s infrastructure, water, energy, sanitation, education in schools and universities.
“Israel is ready to help in every way possible to build trust, make life easier for both parties and be able to discuss anything with the Palestinians that will bring stability and peace to the region,” Hayek said.
He said the UAE can always play an important role in building trust and improving relations between Israel and Palestine.
– ismail@khaleejtimes.com
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