Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to pay an official visit to the UAE, according to Israeli media reports.
The date and plans for the visit have yet to be determined, sources told news website The Times of Israel. However, according to reports, the visit could take place as early as next week.
The trip will be the Likud leader’s first official trip since becoming head of Israel’s far-right government on Thursday, just 18 months after he was ousted.
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke to Netanyahu by phone to “congratulate him on his leadership of Israel’s new government,” the UAE’s state news agency WAM said on Saturday.
Bin Zayed also reiterated an invitation for Netanyahu to visit the UAE, adding that “the two agreed that the visit will take place soon,” according to the Israeli prime minister’s office.
Discussions for the visit are ongoing despite the UAE warning Netanyahu not to let extremist politicians into government ahead of November’s general election.
Despite Tel Aviv’s seemingly warm relationship with Abu Dhabi, the UAE — along with three other Arab states that have controversially agreed to normalize relations with Israel in 2020 — voted last week at the UN General Assembly to seek advice from the International Court of Justice Opinions on the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.
The resolution passed overwhelmingly and was also supported by Jordan and Egypt, which have had formal relations with Israel for many years.
(New Arabian, PC, Social)