UAE denies reports that it has signed an agreement with Israel on security

The UAE has denied Israeli media reports it has signed a memorandum of understanding on internal security with Israel as part of the recent treaty signed between the two countries and the United States.

The UAE and Israel reached a historic agreement on August 13 to normalise relations, establish diplomatic ties and cooperate in a number of areas. As part of the agreement, Israel will stop the annexation of Palestinian territories.

However, the main goal of the diplomatic bilateral treaty is to establish “economic and scientific relations in the fields of technology, artificial intelligence, health and education” and the framework does not cover security agreements, emphasised Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, director of the International Security Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

He dismissed reports that claimed contacts had been established at the ministerial level between the two countries to conclude a security agreement shortly, official news agency WAM reported.

Al Zaabi stressed the reports were “complete inaccurate” and urged media outlets to cite reliable sources and mainatin accuracy and objectivity.

Since the announcement of the agreement, several Israeli and Emirati technology firms have outlined plans to collaborate with one another in the fields of technology and healthcare, including jointly developing a Covid-19 testing device and cooperating within the field of stem cells research.

Read: UAE, Israeli companies agree to jointly combat Covid-19 and develop testing device

Last week, the head of Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, Yossi Cohen also visited the UAE.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has also invited UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed to visit Jerusalem.

Read: Israel asks UAE Crown Prince to visit as peace moves intensify