News / Persian Gulf

UAE revokes law boycotting Israel, allows first direct flight

Saturday, 29 August 2020 10:37 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 29 August 2020 10:37 AM ]

A container ship is docked at the port of Jebel Ali, operated by the Dubai-based giant ports operator DP World, in the southern outskirts of the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai, on June 18, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially canceled a law that boycotted Israel and prevented trade as well as financial agreements with Tel Aviv after signing a deal to normalize relations.

The official Emirates News Agency (WAM) made the announcement on Saturday, saying that Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan had issued a federal decree aimed at "abolishing the Federal Law No. 15 of 1972 regarding boycotting Israel and the penalties thereof.”

Elaborating on the decree and its scope of function, the news agency said companies and individuals in the UAE would now be able to sign agreements with firms or individuals residing in Israel.

"It will be permissible to enter, exchange or possess Israeli goods and products of all kinds in the UAE and trade in them," WAM underlined.

Israel and the UAE on August 13 reached a deal that will lead to a full normalization of diplomatic relations between the two sides, in an agreement apparently brokered by US President Donald Trump.

Israel, UAE reach US-brokered agreement to establish full diplomatic ties

Israel and the United Arab Emirates agree to normalize diplomatic ties in a deal apparently brokered by US President Donald Trump that includes Tel Aviv regime’s agreement to suspend annexation of the occupied West Bank.

According to the accord, Israeli and UAE delegations are to hold meetings and sign bilateral agreements covering sectors including investment, tourism and direct flights and the opening of reciprocal embassies.

Meanwhile, Israel's first direct flight between Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport and the UAE's capital Abu Dhabi is to take place on Monday.

Reports said the flight will carry an Israeli delegation as well as top US presidential aides — among them Trump's senior adviser Jared Kushner.

UAE normalization with Israel poisonous stab in Palestinians’ back: Hamas

Hamas slams UAE’s attempts to normalize ties with Israel as a poisonous stab in the back of the Palestinian nation.

Anger is boiling in the Middle East and elsewhere over the agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize diplomatic relations, with Palestinian leaders describing it as a “stab in the back” by an Arab country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk