Israel Aerospace Industries on Thursday night signed a historic collaboration agreement with Group 42 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The companies will collaborate in the fields of research and development in an effort to find solutions to the coronavirus.
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The cooperation agreement was signed with the Elta division during a video call between the UAE and Israel, during which ways to leverage common innovative technologies in the fields of artificial intelligence, sensors, laser, and more were discussed.
It should be noted that the state-of-the-art solutions and joint medical and technological initiatives are not only meant to help the populations of the two countries but to aid the global and regional fight against the coronavirus.
IAI Executive Vice President and Elta CEO Yoav Turgeman said, "IAI is pleased to sign this cooperation agreement with our partners in Abu Dhabi. The coronavirus disease crosses continents, peoples, and religions and we see paramount importance in the cooperation that will deliver breakthrough solutions. In recent months, IAI has joined the fight against the coronavirus on the basis of the technological know-how, capabilities, and boldness that have existed in IAI since its inception.
"The best minds in [the] company have enlisted in the campaign to protect Israel and help the healthcare system. We are proud to team up with Group 42 from the United Arab Emirates and represent the first step toward future partnerships between the two countries," he said.
Last week, both Israel and the UAE announced that private companies from both countries will join forces to research and develop technology to fight the coronavirus.
Israel and the UAE do not have formal diplomatic relations, but they are believed to maintain close behind-the-scenes contacts because of their shared concerns about Iran.
Earlier this month, the UAE's ambassador to the United States published an op-ed in an Israeli newspaper confirming that ties had improved but warned Israel that proceeding with the sovereignty bid would "upend" any efforts to normalize relations with Arab states.
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Last month, the UAE sent a cargo plane to Israel loaded with coronavirus-related aid it said was destined for the Palestinians. The Palestinian Authority said it could not receive the aid because there had been no prior coordination.
Netanyahu has boasted of quietly improving ties with Arab states, but full normalization still appears unlikely without a resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians.
