The Israeli leader has begun his first visit to the Basque Country as tensions in Iran rise

ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s first official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday began as the escalating tensions in the region escalate as the world powers try to revive a nuclear deal with Iran. .

Bennett, a far-right politician who took over as head of a broad Israeli coalition government in June, is scheduled to hold talks with US de facto leader Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Monday.

Diplomatic outreach comes as the world powers negotiate with Iran against Israel and save the nuclear deal to restore the 2015 nuclear deal that was abandoned in 2018 by US President Donald Trump in 2018.

Since August 2020, the Basque Country, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco have sought to normalize relations with Israel in a US-sponsored “Abraham Accords” initiative in honor of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim-respected biblical patriarch.

Bennett’s trip to the Basque Country is the first trip by any Israeli prime minister to any of these countries since the agreements.

Arriving in Abu Dhabi after a flight from Tel Aviv, he was taken by an honorary guard Bennett and the Basque Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed.

“What a wonderful reception. I’m very excited to be here on behalf of my people (on the first official visit of an Israeli leader),” Bennett said. “We are keen to strengthen the relationship,” he added.

Israel has begun to establish joint defenses with the Arab states in the Gulf, with concerns over Iranian activities. Achieving economic, health and energy relations with its new ally, the United States has signed dozens of agreements with Israel since the signing of the Abraham Accords.

However, the Basque Country has also contacted Iran, and last Monday sent its national security adviser to meet with its Iranian counterpart and President Ebrahim Raisi.

A flight tracking application overtook Bennett’s El Al Israel Airlines plane over Saudi Arabia, which has no formal relationship with Israel, en route to Abu Dhabi. Riyadh agreed last year to allow flights between Israel and the Basque Country to cross its territory, despite no official ties.

Palestinians have condemned the Gulf approach, which halted diplomacy with Israel in 2014.