Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates, at a special welcoming ceremony at the royal palace in Abu Dhabi Sunday afternoon.
After landing in Abu Dhabi, President Herzog traveled to the royal palace this morning, where he held a diplomatic working meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed.
During the welcoming ceremony, the UAE honor guard performed Israel’s national anthem, ‘Hatikva’.
“Thank you very much, your Highness,” President Herzog said. “It is a very moving moment for me and my people, the people of Israel, who are so moved and excited to continue and develop the peaceful coexistence and the peace agreement between the two nations, the Emiratis, and the Israelis.”
“We are two successful nations who basically started with very little in our hands, developed our lands into successful paradises in many ways. And set an example to the world of how to live and develop a nation with a vision to the future.”
"This sends a message to the entire region, that there is an alternative for peace and living together, and that the sons and daughters of Abraham can live and dwell together in peaceful coexistence for the benefit of humanity."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed thanked Herzog for Israel's support of the UAE's right to defend itself, following apparent drone attacks on oil tankers in Abu Dhabi recently.
"I would like to thank you for your stance regarding the recent terrorist attacks on civilian facilities in the UAE. It is a stance that demonstrates our common view of the threats to regional stability and peace, particularly those posed by militias and terrorist forces, as well as our shared understanding of the importance of taking a firm stance against them."
“The Abraham Accords peace agreement was a major historical shift that embodied the approach to peace that the UAE believes in, and it has paved the way towards strengthening our partnerships, particularly in the areas of technology, innovation, health, energy, and others."
President Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog landed this morning in Abu Dhabi, kicking off a historic presidential visit in the United Arab Emirates.
The president’s plane traveled via Saudi airspace en route to the UAE Sunday.