Netanyahu, UAE president commit by phone to dialogue, promoting peace

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ) spoke by phone on Tuesday in a conversation that was described as “friendly and warm.”

The Emirati president wished Netanyahu and the Jewish people a happy Passover this week and Netanyahu sent his holiday greeting to the president and his country for the month of Ramadan, which is currently being celebrated in the Muslim world.

During their conversation, Netanyahu and MBZ agreed to continue working toward the shared peace they committed to when they signed the Abraham Accords in 2020 and that they would aim to expand the agreement in other “important areas.”

On March 26, the Israeli prime minister, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Emirati Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja signed a customs agreement in Jerusalem, putting into effect a free trade agreement that the two nations signed last May.

The agreement covers 96% of trade between Israel and the UAE, including food, agriculture, cosmetics, medical equipment and other commodities. Trade between the two countries reached $885 million in 2021 and has only been growing since then.

“The historic peace accord we signed with the UAE continues to bear fruit for the benefit of the citizens of both countries,” Netanyahu said at the March signing. “I am positive that we will continue to expand Israel’s circle of peace with other regional neighbors.”