First Steps

In a historic first, El Al flight 971, departed from Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi, becoming, “The first ever commercial Israeli flight departed for the United Arab Emirates.”

Called the ‘peace plane’, it carried delegations from both Israel and the United States. Israel National Security Director Meir Ben-Shabbat said, “I’m moved and proud to head the Israeli delegation on the talks at Abu Dhabi. This morning the traditional blessing, ‘Go in peace’, gets a special meaning for us.”

The ‘peace plane’ will also overfly the airspace of Saudi Arabia, making this the first commercial Israeli flight to fo so.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “This is what Peace for Peace looks like. We’re all thrilled by the pace, the swift pace, of normalization between Israel and the UAE. The day will come, and it won’t be far away, when we will ask; ‘How could it have been any other way?’ Because today’s breakthroughs will be tomorrow’s norms. It will pave the way for other countries to normalize their ties with Israel.”

The historic flight arrived in Abu Dhabi safely. Now the negotiations begin between the Israeli, Emirati, and United States delegations “to lay the groundwork for the so called Abraham Accord between Israel and the UAE, which was brokered by the US and announced earlier this month.”

A historic day, indeed!

(Source: The Times of Israel)