Tel Aviv. The normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel takes shape. On August 31 EL AL, the Israeli airline, performed a first commercial flight operation from Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi.

Saudi Arabia approved the use of its airspace and that shortened the flight time to only 3.13 hours.

The delegation includes experts from different Israeli government offices and agencies and high ranking US officials including Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and all-purpose adviser.

The EL AL Boeing 737-900 4X-EHD, named after the city of Kiryat Gat, will fly from Ben-Gurion Airport, and in a tribute to the historic flight, the word “Peace” has been painted in Hebrew, English and Arabic on to the aircraft.

The Boeing 737 was chosen over the Dreamline 787 as the latter is not yet equipped with the Israeli developed Skyshield system protecting the aircraft from shoulder launched rockets.

In a few weeks another delegation is expected to fly to Abu Dhabi, this time composed of security experts.

In recent years, the UAE purchased from Israel some security technologies, mainly for homeland security.
Now, Israeli experts told Raksha Anirveda that “the situation may change with more options to sell defence systems to the UAE.”

-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalists