The Jerusalem Post ePaper

Bennett speaks with Emirati leader after Houthi attack

• By LAHAV HARKOV Reuters contributed to this report.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on Thursday.

The prime minister offered his condolences following the terrorist attack on Abu Dhabi earlier this week by the Iranaligned Yemeni Houthi group.

Bennett also expressed Israel’s support for the United Arab Emirates.

Three people were killed and six wounded on Monday when three tanker trucks exploded in the UAE’s capital. A Houthi military spokesman said the group fired “a large number” of drones and five ballistic missiles in the attack.

Thursday’s phone call followed a letter Bennett sent to the Emirati leader on Tuesday offering Israel’s help in security and intelligence.

“Israel is committed to working closely with you in the ongoing battle against extremist forces in the region and we will continue to partner with you to defeat our common enemies,” he wrote. “We stand ready to offer you security and intelligence support in order to help you protect your citizens from similar attacks.”

Bennett wrote that he ordered Israel’s security establishment to provide their counterparts in the UAE “with any assistance, should you be interested.”

Mohammed and Bennett met in Abu Dhabi in December, in the first public meeting between Israeli and Emirati leaders. The countries established relations in 2020 in what is known as the Abraham Accords.

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https://jpost.pressreader.com/article/281552294237546

Jerusalem Post