The ruler of the United Arab Emirates issued a decree Saturday formally ending the country's boycott of Israel amid a U.S.-brokered deal to normalize relations between the 2 countries.
The announcement now allows trade and
commerce between the UAE, home to oil-rich Abu Dhabi and skyscraper-studded
Dubai, and Israel, home to a thriving diamond trade, pharmaceutical companies
and tech start-ups.
The announcement further cements the Aug
13 deal opening up relations between the 2 nations, which required Israel to
halt its contentious decide to annex occupied West Bank land sought by the
Palestinians.
The state-run WAM press agency said the
decree formally ending the boycott came on the orders of Sheikh Khalifa bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi and therefore the Emirates' leader.
WAM said the new decree allows Israelis
and Israeli firms to try to business within the UAE, a federation of seven
sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. It also allows for the acquisition and
trade of Israeli goods.
“The decree of the new law comes within
the UAE’s efforts to expand diplomatic and commercial cooperation with Israel,”
WAM said. It lays out “a roadmap toward launching joint cooperation, resulting
in bilateral relations by stimulating economic process and promoting
technological innovation.”
Already, some Israeli firms had signed
deals with Emirati counterparts. But the repeal of the law widens the
likelihood of other joint ventures, like in aviation or in banking and finance.
Dubai International Airport, home to the
long-haul carrier Emirates, has been the world's busiest for international
travel for years. The Dubai International center also hosts major firms who
trade the hours between Asian and European markets. Dubai already features a
major gold market and growing diamond trade.
Emirati firms likely also want to access
Israeli technological know-how. Some already had even before the deal — with
the cyber security firm Dark Matter reportedly hiring Israeli military-trained
hackers.
On Monday, the primary direct commercial
flight by Israel's flagship carrier El Al is predicted’ in Abu Dhabi, carrying
U.S. and Israeli officials including President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared
Kushner. Telephone calls already are often made’ between the nations.
The decree formally eliminates a 1972 law
on the UAE's books since just after the country's formation. That law mirrored
the widely held stance by Arab nations at that point that recognition of Israel
would only come after the Palestinians had an independent state of their own.
The UAE is becoming the third Arab nation
after Egypt and Jordan to currently have diplomatic relations with Israel.
However, while widespread public distrust of Israel persists in those nations,
the UAE never fought a war against Israel, nor did it have a historic Jewish
population.
In recent years, the UAE has held quiet
talks with Israel and allowed Israelis with second passports into the country
for trade and talks. Opening ties can also help the Emirates access advanced
American weaponry, just like the F-35 fighter jet that immediately only Israel
flies within the Mideast.
Sheikh Khalifa has ruled the UAE since
2004. He suffered a stroke on Jan. 24, 2014, and underwent emergency surgery.
He has been rarely seen’ since publicly, though state media typically publishes
images of him around Islamic holidays.
Abu Dhabi's prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, has served because the UAE's day-to-day ruler since Sheikh Khalifa stroke. Sheikh Mohammed has focused on increasing the Emirates'
military might amid his suspicions of Iran — an enmity shared by Israel.
While Sheikh Khalifa holds the title of
president, autocratic sheikhs govern the UAE. Abu Dhabi, because the country's
oil-rich capital, has grown increasingly powerful since the UAE's founding in
1971 despite each sheikhdom largely governing its own affairs.
The decree comes after a visit through the
Mideast in recent days by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who hoped to
create on the UAE-Israel deal.
The accord also came as a serious policy
win to Trump as he campaigns before the November election against Democratic
candidate Joe Biden. Both Israel and therefore the UAE have viewed the
Republican president as an ally.
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