UAE's first Israeli ambassador calls Abraham Accords a corridor of peace

Abu Dhabi - Na’eh believes the UAE will continue to see a high volume of tourists from Israel.

When Ambassador Eitan Na’eh completed the prestigious diplomatic Cadet Course in Israel nearly 30 years ago, he did not imagine Abu Dhabi as a possible posting destination. Having served in Turkey, Azerbaijan, Baku, the UK and US, Na’eh who’s had his share of ‘firsts’ says this posting feels different.

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“The whole thing is historic on a national level and on a personal level. The feeling is of excitement and we would like to start work,” he says.

Na’eh, who for many years had hoped for a diplomatic breakthrough like the Abraham Accords, believes this marks the beginning of greater regional stability.

“The UAE-Israel relationship is a corridor of stability in the region and can serve as an example for future agreements. Creating a corridor of cooperation, joint ventures, joint research centres and more will serve as an example and model for the whole region.”

As a young diplomat in the ’90s Na’eh watched the peace signing ceremony with Jordan and the Oslo Accords, hoping it would then expand to the entire region. Following his appointment as Israel’s first Head of Mission to the UAE, Na’eh started receiving messages of congratulations from people in Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco and other regional players who expressed hope to see this peace flourish.

While Ambassador Na’eh is the first diplomatic appointment following the signing of the Abraham Accords, he is not the first Israeli official in the region, he stresses. A lot of groundwork has already been done, and with the establishment of a permanent mission and future embassy, the relations can now be taken to the next level- across all sectors.