Prime Minister Yair Lapid received Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan this evening in Jerusalem. The visit marks two years since the signing on the White House lawn of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the Emirates and Bahrain, under the auspices of then-US President Donald Trump.

Addressing the cameras, Lapid said, "This is the historic visit of a regional leader, a visit which will promote the regional architecture that we have been building over the past year in the Middle East. It is a visit of a close and dear friend with which we can talk about everything.

Turning to Bin Zayed, Lapid said, "My friend, we are changing the Middle East together. We are moving the region from war to peace, from terror to economic cooperation."

Lapid and Bin Zayed first met privately, followed by a larger meeting. Israel’s Energy Minister Karin Elharar, national security adviser Eyal Hulata, director of the prime minister’s office Naama Schultz, director of the Foreign Ministry Alon Ushpiz and other Israeli officials took part. The Emirati delegation included Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, Emirati Minister of Culture and Youth Noura bint Mohamed Al Kaabi as well as the Emirati ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja.