First direct commercial flight between Israel, UAE takes off

  first historic commercial flight between Israel and UAE left for Abu Dhabi on Monday from Ben-Gurion airport here, days after rmalisation of relations between two countries under US mediation.

flight is carrying a high-level Israeli delegation led by National Security viser Meir Ben Shabbat and a US delegation heed by US President Donald Trump's viser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and US National Security viser Robert O’Brien.

Israel and UAE anunced on August 13  that y were establishing full diplomatic relations, in a US-brokered deal that required Israel to suspend its plan to annex parts of West Bank.

UAE is only third Arab country to establish diplomatic ties with Jewish state. Israel's neighbours, Egypt and Jordan, being or two Arab states to recognise Jewish state.

development is being seen as a major breakthrough because Israeli national carrier, El Al, is likely to fly over Saudi air, which is being interpreted by analysts as acceptance of Israel by Gulf countries in general, and a probable rmalisation of ties with some of or "friendly countries" in that region.

Speaking at Ben-Gurion International Airport just before takeoff, Kushner said, "We hope this will start an even more historic journey...this is a very hopeful time and I believe that so much peace and prosperity are possible in this region and around world." Ben-Shabbat said Israel's goals for trip is to "reach a joint work plan to promote ties in a bro range of areas, including tourism, invation, health and much more".

Israeli Airline Pilots Association released a tentative map of LY971’s route on Sunday evening, showing plane slated to cross through Saudi air.

Israel's Channel 12 reported that Saudi Arabia h authorised use of its air after receiving a request from Washington and only agreed to do so because a high-level American delegation will be onboard.

Many believe that rmalisation of ties with UAE could have come only with Saudi blessings but Riyh is yet to establish formal diplomatic ties with Jerusalem but is believed to covertly cooperate closely with Jewish state.

Air India has been flying over Saudi air since its operations started in March 2018 on Tel Aviv-Delhi route, but kingdom did t permit Israeli airlines to fly over it.

Symbolic of direct connection between Israel and UAE flight numbers have been marked LY971 on way to Abu Dhabi and LY972 on way back to Israel, using telephone dialing code of two countries.

El Al has also painted a peace logo in Arabic, English and Hebrew on flight 971.

Israeli Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday met senior American officials who were involved in brokering deal between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi and who would be accompanying Israeli officials on flight for discussions on rmalisation of ties.

Netanyahu during a press conference on Sunday said breakthrough signalled end of a "Palestinian veto".

“I think for too long Palestinians have h a veto on peace. t only between Israel and Palestinians but between Israel and Arab world”, Israeli Prime Minister said.

“If we have to wait for Palestinians, we would have to wait forever. longer. Palestinians, when y realise that ir veto has dissipated, will be hard pressed to remain outside community of peace,” he ded.

Speaking alongside Kushner and O’Brien, Netanyahu expressed hopes that rmalisation of Israel-UAE ties will pave way for treaties with more Arab countries.

Most of Arab countries over years have linked rmalisation of ties with Israel to a peace agreement and just settlement of Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Palestinian leers have condemned UAE for agreeing to rmalise relations with Israel, calling move "despicable and a betrayal".

Prime Minister's Office has said that delegation aboard "historic" flight is civilian in nature and defence officials would be travelling to Gulf country a few weeks later.

two-day visit will include a trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi between hes of delegations -- Israel's Ben-Shabbat, O’Brien and Kushner for US, and UAE National Security visor Sheikh Tahun bin Zayed.

Israeli delegation also included Cabinet Secretary Tzachi Braverman, Health Ministry Director General Chezy Levy, Science and Techlogy Ministry Director General Shai-Li Spiegelman, Ecomy and Industry Ministry Director General David Laffler among ors.

UAE on Saturday issued a decree abolishing a law that boycotted Israel and paves way for tre and financial agreements between two countries.

However, amid ongoing bonhomie also lies an irritant around proposed US' sale of F-35 fighter jets to UAE which Israel strongly objects to, fearing loss of military edge.

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Sunday told visiting US delegation that he hoped Israel and US would continue finding ways to maintain Jerusalem's quality military edge in region.

"We will work in partnership to vance furr agreements and find right ways to ensure that our military superiority is maintained while safeguarding Israel’s security," Gantz said.

(Im Credits:PTI)