Israeli Leader Holds Historic Meeting With Emirati Crown Prince
The New York Times
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Prince Mohammed bin Zayed of the United Arab Emirates met for four hours on the Israeli leader’s first official trip to the Gulf state.
JERUSALEM — The Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, met the de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, on Monday during the first official visit by an Israeli leader to the Gulf state.
The four-hour meeting, which lasted two hours longer than planned, showcased the consolidation of ties between Israel and parts of the Arab world. Israel was long ostracized by most Arab governments until last fall, when Israeli officials began to establish formal diplomatic relationships with four Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting also highlighted the shifting geopolitical priorities for some Middle Eastern leaders, for whom countering the possible threat of a nuclear Iran is now a greater priority than finding an immediate resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
