Israeli and UAE envoys: We are writing a new chapter in diplomacy
search

The latest Jewish News

Read this week’s digital edition

Click Here
Analysis

Israeli and UAE envoys: We are writing a new chapter in diplomacy

Mohamed Mahmoud Fateh Ali Al Khaja, the first UAE ambassador to Israel, and his counterpart from the Jewish state to Abu Dhabi, Eitan Na'eh, reflect on burgeoning new ties

President Rivlin received diplomatic credentials from the first Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the State of Israel, Mohamed Mahmoud Fateh Ali Al Khaja.



Photo credit: Mark Neyman, GPO
President Rivlin received diplomatic credentials from the first Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the State of Israel, Mohamed Mahmoud Fateh Ali Al Khaja. Photo credit: Mark Neyman, GPO

Six months ago, an Emirati and an Israeli diplomat were unlikely to be seen together, much less co-author a newspaper article. Opening up direct relations and Embassies seemed even more far-fetched. But here we are now, an Emirati Ambassador in Israel and an Israeli Head of Mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in public, together, writing in one voice.   

Conflict can last for generations but peace can happen in an instant. With that diplomatic flash last summer, our nations and our people are now in a rush to make up for lost time. The speed of normalisation has been nothing less than breath-taking, even amid a worldwide pandemic and the regular challenges of sharing the world’s most troubled neighbourhood.

We are diplomats, representatives of our nations and agents of warming ties between the UAE and Israel. We believe in the power of our profession, that building trust through open and direct ties, combined with bold political leadership can produce regional transformations. 

Over recent weeks, we have met and talk, often. Our conversations focus on growing economic ties, trade and tourism, health and educational exchanges, and deepening people-to-people contacts. We facilitate and update each other on the near daily announcements of new agreements between our universities, research institutes, start-ups, and medical centres. 

Eitan Na’eh

Just last week, we recognised the joint partnership between the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence and the Weizmann Institute of Science. We celebrated together the UAE space probe’s successful arrival at Mars and wondered about future Israeli-Emirati space cooperation and missions. 

We write this article together, proud that the UAE and Israel are leading the world in vaccinating our populations against Covid-19. With open and direct ties, our medical professionals are sharing data, learning from each other, and charting new areas for research and for collaboration on vaccine distribution around the region and the world.  

As we move towards reopening our economies and restarting travel, UAE-Israeli cross border trade, tourism and investment growth will quicken. As the two most dynamic and advanced societies in the region, the potential is limitless.     

Last week, Ambassador Al Khaja entered the official residence of Israeli President Reuben Rivlin to present his diplomatic credentials.

President Rivlin received diplomatic credentials from the first Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the State of Israel, Mohamed Mahmoud Fateh Ali Al Khaja.
Photo credit: Mark Neyman, GPO

Meetings followed with Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Ashkenazi. Work will start on locating a site for a new embassy. For Head of Mission Na’eh, now entering his second month of work in the UAE, the days are already filled with official government meetings and direct engagement with Emiratis.  

Six months ago, it would have been hard to imagine. But here we are, each of us and together, supported by and in the interests of the governments and people we serve. 

We are helping to write a new chapter in diplomacy and chart a new course of peace, prosperity and progress for the Middle East.  

B’Al Najah wa’tawfiq B’ hatzlacha to both our countries.

  • By Mohamed Mahmoud Fateh Ali Al Khaja, UAE Ambassador to Israel and Eitan Na’eh, Head of Mission, Embassy of Israel, Abu Dhabi

Support your Jewish community. Support your Jewish News

Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.

For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.

Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.

You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.

100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...

Engaging

Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.

Celebrating

There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.

Pioneering

In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.

Campaigning

Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.

Easy access

In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.

Voice of our community to wider society

The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.

We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.

read more: