Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed meets Yair Lapid on first official visit to Israel

UAE foreign minister has emphasised the importance of building on the Abraham Accords

(L to R) Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and Emirati Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan during the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. WAM

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan taking part in the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. WAM

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) taking part in the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker, alongside (L to R) Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. WAM

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. WAM

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaking during the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. WAM

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani and Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. WAM

Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani (L) speaking with Emirati Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan (R) during the Negev summit in the Israeli kibbutz of Sde Boker. WAM

Israel hosted the foreign ministers of the UAE, Morocco, Egypt and Bahrainduring US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to the region. The men posed after a landmark meeting on issues including the Iran nuclear deal and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AFP

Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita departs the Kedma Hotel, the location of the Negev Summit. Reuters

After meeting for the Negev Summit, Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, left, shows Mr Blinken a view of the crater during a visit to David Ben Gurion National Park in Sde Boker, Israel. AP Photo

Mr Lapid, far left, delivers opening remarks during a roundtable with, from left, Mr Blinken; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation; and Nasser Bourita, Sameh Shoukry and Abdullatif Al Zayani, the foreign ministers of Morocco, Egypt and Bahrain, respectively. AFP

Activists from the Palestinian initiative Women of the Sun and Israeli movement Women Wage Peace demonstrate opposite the Kedma Hotel. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah is welcomed to the Negev Summit by Mr Lapid. AFP

Mr Lapid arriving at Sde Boker to host the Negev Summit. AFP

The flags of the nations taking part in the Negev Summit are set up outside the Kedma Hotel. AFP

Mr Lapid, left, greets Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on his arrival at Sde Boker. AFP

Mr Lapid, left, greets Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on his arrival. AFP

Mr Lapid, left, greets Bahraini Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif Al Zayani on his arrival. AFP

Flags are prepared for the Negev Summit. Reuters

Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz, right, meets Mr Blinken in Jerusalem ahead of the Negev Summit. AFP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, and Mr Blinken meet in the West Bank city of Ramallah. EPA

Hussein Al Sheikh, a member of the Palestinian PLO Executive Committee, centre left, shakes hands with Mr Blinken. EPA

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, right, with Mr Blinken after their meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. EPA

Workers hang flags in preparation for the Negev Summit at Sde Boker. Reuters

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE's Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, on Sunday met Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yair Lapid, during his first official visit to Israel.

During the meeting, they explored ways to enhance relations between the countries within the framework of the Abraham Accords, which normalised relations between the UAE and Israel.

The two ministers also exchanged views on the latest regional and global developments, including the crisis in Ukraine.

Sheikh Abdullah thanked Mr Lapid for the warm reception and said the two nations shared a common will to strengthen relations and expand their development partnership at various levels.

UAE-Israeli relations have grown and evolved steadily in many sectors since the accords were signed in August 2020, Sheikh Abdullah said.

He emphasised the importance of building on the accords to achieve peace in the region.

"Consolidating regional and global peace and stability is a primary driver of the UAE's foreign policy and an integral part of its 10 Principles for the Next 50," Sheikh Abdullah said.

"And the UAE is looking forward to working with its regional and global partners to achieve this goal."

The UAE’s ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja, also attended the meeting.

Sheikh Abdullah joined the foreign ministers of Morocco, Egypt and Bahrain for a regional summit during US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to the region.

Iran was expected to dominate the agenda as regional powers look to increase their defence and security co-ordination.