UAE's Flydubai Lands 1st Scheduled Flight in Tel Aviv

FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft bearing the logo of flydubai is parked at a Boeing production facility in Renton, Washington, US March 11, 2019. REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft bearing the logo of flydubai is parked at a Boeing production facility in Renton, Washington, US March 11, 2019. REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo
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UAE's Flydubai Lands 1st Scheduled Flight in Tel Aviv

FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft bearing the logo of flydubai is parked at a Boeing production facility in Renton, Washington, US March 11, 2019. REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft bearing the logo of flydubai is parked at a Boeing production facility in Renton, Washington, US March 11, 2019. REUTERS/David Ryder/File Photo

A flight operated by budget airline flydubai landed in Tel Aviv on Thursday, the first scheduled commercial service between the two cities following the normalization of ties between the UAE and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on hand for the arrival of the inaugural flight after its nearly four-hour trip, called it "a moment of history."

"As-salaam alaikum (Peace be upon you)," he said to arriving passengers. "Come again and again and again."

The United Arab Emirates in September signed a landmark US-brokered deal to formalize relations with Israel.

Commenting on the accord in a tweet Thursday, UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan said it would foster "prosperity and progress" in the Middle East.

"The start of scheduled flights will contribute to economic development and create further opportunities for investment," flydubai CEO Ghaith al-Ghaith said when the service was announced earlier this month.

The Dubai carrier will fly the route twice daily, and Israeli airlines El Al and Israir are both expected to launch their commercial services between the cities next month.

Etihad Airways, based in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, has said it will begin flying to Tel Aviv in March 2021.

The UAE and Israel have already signed treaties on visa-free travel along with accords on investment protection, science and technology.



Saudi Arabia Rejects Israeli Maps that Annex Parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria

Saudi Arabia called on the international community to assume is responsibility in stopping the Israeli violations. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called on the international community to assume is responsibility in stopping the Israeli violations. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Rejects Israeli Maps that Annex Parts of Jordan, Lebanon, Syria

Saudi Arabia called on the international community to assume is responsibility in stopping the Israeli violations. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia called on the international community to assume is responsibility in stopping the Israeli violations. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Wednesday Israel’s publication of maps that show its occupation of parts of Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, claiming these territories as its own.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry slammed such extremist acts that reflect Israel’s “intentions to consolidate its occupation and continue its flagrant violation of the sovereignty of those nations.”

Saudi Arabia called on the international community to assume is responsibility in stopping these violations, “stressing the need to respect the sovereignty and borders of these countries to ease tensions and put a stop to attempts to undermine peace efforts.”