After the signing of the Abraham Accord at the White House seven months ago, the UAE and Israel made another peace gesture in Washington by planting an olive tree at the Emirates' embassy to celebrate Earth Day.
The first public gathering at the embassy since Covid-19 pandemic took hold highlighted the many changes in the relationship after the accord normalised relations between the UAE and Israel.
Standing next to Israel’s ambassador to the US and the UN, Gilad Erdan, the UAE’s ambassador and Minister of State Yousef Al Otaiba called planting the tree a “momentous celebration".
“Warmer relations will help get us to a cooler planet,” Mr Al Otaiba said. “Normalisation is already accelerating climate co-operation between the UAE and Israel.
"These efforts in innovation, promotion and finance will help to deliver the benefits of low-carbon, sustainable economic growth across the region and world.
“We are going to plant a tree that is a symbol, not just of our friendship, but also of research and collaboration we can do together."
Mr Erdan spoke of establishing a new forum for sustainable development.
“I believe that Israel, the UAE and the United States, together with other Abraham Accords countries, and nations from across the Middle East, should establish a new regional forum for sustainable development, aimed at accelerating co-operation, sharing knowledge and advancing innovative solutions to our shared challenges,” he said.
The event was attended by Barbara Leaf, special assistant to the US president and senior director for Middle East and North Africa affairs on the National Security Council.
Ted Deutch, chairman for the subcommittee on the Mena region and global counter-terrorism on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was in attendance.
Also in attendance were Jordanian ambassador Dina Kawar, Egyptian envoy Motaz Zahran and Moroccan ambassador Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui.
“You need strong roots to nurture peace across the Middle East," Ms Leaf said.
"This tree symbolises the painstaking efforts of Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalise their relationship and work towards peace across their region.
“The United States looks forward to stronger co-operation with the UAE and Israel on meeting the climate challenge.”
The UAE and Israel will take part in US President Joe Biden's Earth Day climate summit on Thursday.
They are expected to announce, along with the US and other countries, new co-operative initiatives on sustainable agriculture, project finance and green technology.
Mr Deutch said the accords opened broad opportunities for the region.
"This is a reminder of the opportunities ahead, of planting of seeds for a better future for the entire region," he told The National.
Along with rapidly growing scientific, educational and cultural links, closer climate co-operation has been a priority focus of the UAE and Israel since they signed the accord last year.
The diplomatic breakthrough enabled and encouraged universities, museums and performing arts organisations to launch new partnerships and programmes.
David Makovsky, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, emphasised the people-to-people relations that are evolving through the accord.
“This is a unique peace and has a chance of being peace between peoples and not just governments," Mr Makovsky said.
"This could be a rocket ship with huge potential when it comes to tourism and investment."
Across public and private sectors, the UAE and Israel are deepening co-operation and starting new businesses in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, water conservation and other areas.
In February, Gulf-Israel Green Ventures and the UAE's United Stars Group signed a unique deal for sharing green technology between the two countries.
A matching olive tree and plaque will also be planted in the garden of the Israeli embassy in the US.
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