During his visit, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan wrote the following message in Yad Vashem’s Guestbook: ” My presence here today reminds us of the lessons that history teaches us and the great responsibility we have to practice tolerance for the sake of building our communities and societies.  We must take brave steps to build a bridge of real peace for future generations.”

The UAE Foreign Minister is in Israel to mark the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between the Jewish state and several Arab countries. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

The Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, made Thursday an historic visit to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

He toured the exhibition “Flashes of Memory – Photography during the Holocaust“, participated in a memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance and signed the Yad Vashem Guestbook together with three other Ministers from the UAE.

During his visit, the Foreign Minister wrote the following message in Yad Vashem’s Guestbook: ” My presence here today reminds us of the lessons that history teaches us and the great responsibility we have to practice tolerance for the sake of building our communities and societies.  We must take brave steps to build a bridge of real peace for future generations.”

At the conclusion of the visit, Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan presented Minister Al Nahyan with the “Flashes of Memory” exhibition catalog to mark his first official visit to the Mount of Remembrance.

“It is a momentous occasion for an Arab state official to visit Yad Vashem in order to commemorate the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered by the German Nazis and their collaborators during the Second World War,” declared Dani Dayan. “Visiting Yad Vashem sends the message that regardless of background, religion or race, we all have the duty to learn about the Holocaust and combat antisemitism in all its forms, wherever it rears its ugly head around the world, immediately and vigorously.”

Following his visit, the UAE minister, who is in Israel to mark the second anniversary of the Abraham Accords that normalized relations between the Jewish state and several Arab countries, met with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

The two held a private discussion before holding an expanded meeting that will reportedly focus primarily on enhancing bilateral ties, as well as on Iran’s nuclear program.

”This is a historic visit of a regional leader that will advance the regional architecture we have been building this past year in the Middle East. This is a visit of a strategic partner that will strengthen economic and security ties between our countries. This is a visit of a close and dear friend, with whom I can talk about everything,” Lapid said during a joint press conference with Sheikh Abdullah.

“My friend, together, we are changing the face of the Middle East. We are changing it from war to peace, from terrorism to economic cooperation, from a discourse of violence and extremism to a dialogue of tolerance and cultural curiosity,” the Israeli premier continued.

“You may know that the Hebrew word shalom has two meanings—both hello and peace. So, I greet you with shalom, and I wish us all shalom: A blessing of peace,” said Lapid.

During the meeting, Sheikh Abdullah noted that the relations between the UAE and the State of Israel are moving forward towards broader horizons of cooperation across all fields.

The Israeli premier welcomed the visit of Sheikh Abdullah and his accompanying delegation, praising the privileged relations between the two countries.

Following the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah said: “Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, just two years ago, I was honored to be part of the signing of our Abrahamic Accords representing my beloved country, the United Arab Emirates. I am sure that not only myself but many of us who attended the signing of the Abraham Accords in Washington D.C. did not expect at the time that after two years we will be with the Israeli Prime Minister celebrating our second year of warm bilateral relations, not only between the two states, but between the two peoples as well.”

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan pointed out in this regard that about half a million Israelis visited the UAE during the past two years, adding that there are about 7 to 8 flights per day between the two countries.

He highlighted the growth in the volume of trade exchange between the UAE and Israel, expressing his belief that the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries may be the fastest FTA signed by Israel.

Sheikh Abdullah said he looks forward to keeping the bilateral relations growing for the Emirati and Israeli citizens to reap the fruits of this partnership and promote a message of hope that the region badly needs.

For his part, the Israeli premier welcomed the visit of Sheikh Abdullah and the accompanying delegation, saying, “We celebrate today the visit of a strategic partner to our country. It’s a historic visit that will contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries at various levels.”

He indicated that cooperation between the two countries is witnessing a steady growth, and the UAE and Israel have signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to achieve prosperity and sustainable development for their peoples.

Sheikh Abdullah said he looks forward to keeping the bilateral relations growing for the Emirati and Israeli citizens to reap the fruits of this partnership and promote a message of hope that the region badly needs.

For his part, the Israeli premier welcomed the visit of Sheikh Abdullah and the accompanying delegation, saying, “We celebrate today the visit of a strategic partner to our country. It’s a historic visit that will contribute to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries at various levels.”

He indicated that cooperation between the two countries is witnessing a steady growth, and the UAE and Israel have signed a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to achieve prosperity and sustainable development for their peoples.

Sheikh Abdullah was to attend a reception in the evening hosted by Abu Dhabi’s ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khajah, which President Isaac Herzog was also expected to attend.

The UAE’s top diplomat visited Israel in March for the Negev Summit, along with the foreign ministers of Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain and the United States.