Israel and UAE in historic direct flight following peace deal - BBC News
Updated: Aug 24, 2021
Latest published work for the BBC.
The first commercial flight from Israel to the UAE has landed, marking a major step in normalising relations after the announcement of a peace deal. The El Al airliner made the three-hour trip, carrying a delegation of Israeli and US officials. The flight was allowed to cross Saudi Arabian airspace, normally blocked to Israeli air traffic. The UAE became only the third Arab country in the Middle East to recognise Israel since its founding in 1948. On Saturday the UAE repealed a law boycotting Israel which had been in place since 1972, and earlier this month the two countries opened direct telephone services for the first time.