Netanyahu hails 1st Israel-UAE commercial flight

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Tuesday an Israeli delegation will join White House adviser Jared Kushner in the United Arab Emirates next week to begin work on implementing an agreement to establish official diplomatic relations.

Netanyahu said his national security adviser, Meir Ben-Shabbat, would lead the delegation.

The flight will will be the first known direct flight by Israel's state airline El-Al to a Gulf Arab country and an important sign of progress in implementing the August 13 agreement by Israel and the UAE to establish official relations.

A number of Israeli government ministries will also send representatives, including the directors of the foreign and defense ministries and the national aviation authority.

Netanyahu said the talks would advance "peace and normalization" with the UAE.

"This is a historic agreement. It will lead to growth, it can help bring about economic prosperity" Netanyahu said, particularly in the era of the coronavirus.

He also expressed hope Israeli citizens will soon be able to visit Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

"There is a lot to see there," he said.

The UAE-Israel flight also would indicate Saudi support for the deal.

Saudi Arabia has voiced lukewarm support and until now has not said whether they would allow the two countries to use its airspace for direct flights.

Without Saudi acquiescence, flights would likely have to take a roundabout and potentially risky route around Yemen and through the Persian Gulf.