The first diplomatic delegation from the United Arab Emirates to visit Israel since 1948 landed at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the members of the delegation.
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"Today, we are making history in a way that will stand for generations. This is the first-ever official visit from the United Arab Emirates to Israel. We are signing four agreements that will make a tangible difference for our peoples," he said.
"Jews and Arabs are the descendants of Abraham, after whom this agreement is named," Netanyahu said.
The deals signed on Tuesday included agreements to protect investments and help entrepreneurs; cooperation in science and technology; direct flights between Israel and the UAE; and a bilateral visa waiver.
"Peace will not remain on paper only. We are already seeing some of its fruits. It will lead to significant expansion of tourism and business between these countries. An agreement will be signed for 10 flights a week. We will go to them, and they will come to us. This will also make flights cheaper for Israelis," the prime minister added.
LIVE! Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosts a trilateral summit meeting with the participation of US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and United Arab Emirates Minister of State for Financial Affairs Obaid Humaid Al Tayer. 🇮🇱🇺🇸🇦🇪 https://t.co/4PALW8Zyoo
— PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 20, 2020
The delegation, which took off from Abu Dhabi, is being led by Emirati Financial Affairs Minister Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, as well as the Emirates' Economy Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Mari. The entourage includes dozens of government functionaries and journalists.
The visit is slated to be a short one due to the COVID-19 epidemic in Israel, and last only some five hours. Several bilateral agreements were signed at a table set up on the tarmac itself, after which the representatives moved indoors for the scheduled sit-down meetings.
The delegation took off for Israel the day after the UAE cabinet approved the agreement to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel that was signed in Washington last month. The UAE and fellow Gulf state Bahrain in September became the first Arab states in a quarter of a century to sign agreements to establish formal ties with Israel.
A cabinet statement said the Abraham Accord would be "an avenue of peace and stability to support the ambitions of the region's people and enhance efforts for prosperity and advancement, especially as it paves the way for deepening economic, culture and knowledge ties."
Israel ratified the deal in a cabinet vote and a Knesset vote last week.
Also on Monday, the first commercial passenger flight from the UAE to Israel landed in Tel Aviv. Etihad Airways Flight No. 9607 took off from Abu Dhabi early Monday and arrived at Ben-Gurion Airport shortly after 7 a.m.
Later Monday, the Etihad aircraft departed for Abu Dhabi, carrying members of an Israeli travel and tourism delegation.
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