Dubai (AFP)

Normalization a year ago between Israel and the United Arab Emirates paved the way for agreements with "enormous potential", believes the head of the Israeli mission in Dubai who hopes in the long term for the transit of Emirati oil through his country.

Trade with this rich Gulf oil country should "easily" exceed, if the health crisis permits, the billion dollar mark within a year, Ilan Sztulman Starosta said in an interview with AFP on 23 December. August.

Since the signing on September 15, 2020 of the agreement officially establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the Emirates, the conclusion of an important oil agreement is notably at stake.

This provides for the shipment by sea of ​​oil from the Gulf to the port of Eilat, on the Red Sea, in southern Israel.

From there, the black gold would be transported by pipeline through Israel to the Mediterranean port of Ashkelon, from where it would be shipped to Europe.

But the project was frozen last month for "environmental considerations" because it would threaten the corals of the northern Red Sea, off the seaside town of Eilat, explains Mr. Starosta from the Israeli consulate in Dubai, inaugurated in June.

"The Ministry of the Environment froze the project" for fear that "this very old oil pipeline was not sufficiently well maintained (...) and that there could be leaks."

"Professionals must inspect the pipeline and do what is necessary so that it does not present any risk", details the person in charge.

"In the long term, I hope (that the project) will see the light of day because it is a very good agreement for both the Emirates and the State of Israel," he assures us.

- "Huge potential" -

On September 15, 2020 at the White House, the Emirates and Bahrain signed an agreement with Israel, making these Gulf monarchies the first Arab countries to recognize the Hebrew state, after Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.

And at the end of June, the head of Israeli diplomacy Yair Lapid inaugurated in Abu Dhabi the first Israeli embassy in the Gulf.

Fifteen days later, the Emirates opened their embassy in Tel Aviv.

Mr. Starosta said he was confident about the development of relations with Abu Dhabi.

And if the oil deal were to fail, it would not affect relations between the two countries, he assures us.

The normalization of bilateral relations has already enabled numerous agreements in the fields of tourism, aviation and finance.

Trade between the two countries thus reached 500 million dollars (about 422.6 million euros) in August, a figure which excludes investments, reports the Israeli official.

"I'm cautious, (but) I think we may double the volume of trade within a year, if the Covid goes away."

The head of the Israeli mission in Dubai, Ilan Sztulman Starosta, during an interview with AFP on August 23, 2021 in his office Karim SAHIB AFP

"The potential is absolutely huge for both sides," insists Starosta.

About 200,000 Israelis have surrendered to the Emirates since the agreement and 40 Israeli companies have established themselves in the federation's free zones, he reports.

Moreover, far from trade agreements, relations are beginning to be forged between Israelis and Emiratis, underlines Mr. Starosta.

Two Emirati students enrolled in an Israeli university.

And the birth last month of Mr. Starosta's daughter in Dubai, the first by an Israeli in that city since normalization, is a symbol according to the latter.

“She was born here in Dubai, in a Dubai hospital, where she was treated by a Muslim doctor,” he says.

"This is true peace (...) and not just a signing of agreements."

© 2021 AFP