UAE ambassador Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khaja meets Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin

The UAE’s first ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khaja, visited Israel on Monday and presented his credentials to Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin.

At a reception, the UAE national anthem was played before Al Khaja presented his credentials to Rivlin, after which they held bilateral meetings, reported state news agency WAM.

“Thanks to the courageous and wise leadership of the UAE, we have had the honor of seeing this wonderful day, with the UAE flag flying alongside the Israeli flag above the presidential residence in Jerusalem,” said Rivlin.

Meanwhile Al Khaja said, ” The historic Abraham Accords Peace Agreement, signed at the White House in September 2020, has opened a new chapter in relations between our two countries and promotes stability and security in our region. The Abraham Accords Peace Agreement will not only positively impact both countries, but also the entire region. Both countries have begun to regard addressing challenges to regional and international security as a common goal.

“The Abraham Accords Peace Agreement opens up new prospects for job creation for the region’s youth, as our two countries represent two of the most important and largest economies in the region to support growth and create new opportunities. The initiation of diplomatic relations between both countries has warmed ties between our peoples through tourism and cooperation in various sectors such as education and health.”

Read: UAE cabinet approves resolution endorsing Abraham Accords peace agreement with Israel

Al Khaja also addressed the areas of cooperation between Israel and the UAE in Covid-19 research and testing. He said, “The UAE and the State of Israel have collaborated on scientific research to combat Covid-19, and our two countries have become global leaders in vaccinating against Covid-19. This is what peace brings. Today, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Israel stand together in saving lives, containing the pandemic on the one hand, and safely opening our two countries’ economies on the other hand.”

Apart from Rivlin, Al Khaja also met with Gabi Ashkenazi, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Tel Aviv.

On February 15, Al Khaja was sworn in as the UAE’s first ambassador to Israel by by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at a ceremony at the Qasr Al Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Read: Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khaja sworn in as UAE’s first ambassador to Israel