Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made a historic visit to the UAE this week, the first ever official visit from an Israeli premier. It comes less than a week after UAE state firm Mubadala paid Tel-Aviv based Delek Drilling $1bn for a 22% stake in Israel’s second largest gas field, 10.5tcf Tamar (MEES, 10 December).
Mr Bennett’s visit to the UAE and his meeting with Abu Dhabi de facto leader Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed marks the culmination of ever-improving ties between the two countries following the signing of the US-brokered ‘Abraham Accords’ in August 2020 (MEES, 14 August 2020). The UAE is also involved in a planned power for water deal between Israel and Jordan through the construction of a 600MW solar PV plant in the Jordanian desert (MEES, 26 November). (CONTINUED - 219 WORDS)