Israel-UAE flight lands safely in Abu Dhabi, F-35 talks to be held

“Prime Minister Netanyahu and the president will discuss that at some point,” Kushner said, when asked about the possible sale of F-35 stealth jets to the UAE, which is controversial in Israel.

Kushner said that Trump can be trusted to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge, but that the US also has a decades-long defense partnership with the UAE.

“I’m sure Mr. Netanyahu sees the opportunities coming from this relationship,” he added.
Ticket for the historic first flight from Israel to Abu Dhabi, August 31, 2020 (Credit: Screenshot)

As for the first Israeli flight over Saudi Arabia, Kushner said the Saudis are “very gracious,” and that the flight is “a manifestation of what is possible in the Middle East.” 

“We can take it as a sign,” Kushner said. “It’s an encouragement for this progress.”

Netanyahu radioed in a message to the plane while it was flying over Saudi Arabia. 

Responding to questions as to which Middle Eastern countries may make peace with Israel next, Kushner chuckled, saying: “I know the people in Israel well, and when there’s an accomplishment, they say what’s next. I’m going to ask the Israeli people for just one day…let’s take a moment to celebrate.”
 

US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said he is “hopeful this will be the first step in creating momentum…[that] will lead to other nations deciding it is in their best interests to normalize ties with Israel.” 

Kushner said that Trump’s vision for the Middle East has long been that amid “conflict, chaos and division of the last decades, we do believe that we are ushering in a new hopefulness that peace is possible.”

“One of the great things I love about working with this president is he doesn’t play it safe. He tries to take on challenges. Peace in the Middle East was something that became an actual pursuit,” he said.

The special adviser commended Netanyahu and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed for their “great leadership.” 

As for the Trump peace plan and its allowing for Israel to extend its sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria, Kushner said Israel is “going to be focused right now on the relationship with the UAE. I think that’ll make peace, in time, with the Palestinians much more possible.”  

The first El Al flight from Israel to the United Arab Emirates (Prime Minister’s Office)
 

Still, he added, “President Trump likes to leave his options open.”

Annexation was included in the plan because it was clear that “in the context of any agreement, Israel wasn’t going to give up that territory,” and the US “had to make sure Israel’s security was protected.”

Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and potentially recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank would “take those provocative issues off the table.”

Kushner criticized the Palestinians for rejecting the Trump plan even before it was published in January.

“Certain people like division and the status quo for whatever reason,” he said. 

Upon landing, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to pilot Tal Becker and said, “You are about to open the door to a different kind of peace now – peace with investments, peace with tourism. Peace with the very many fruits of peace that will be distributed here, to our two peoples, and also to the peoples of the region.”He called the UAE trip a “historic blessing.””I have worked on this for many, many years,” the prime minister added, “believing that peace for peace will bring about a big turnaround, and that the Arab people would be able to accept the State of Israel.”Salam aleichem, ahlan and sahlan,” he concluded.