As part of the opening event of the anniversary of the Avraham agreements, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen addressed Abu Dhabi today (Sunday) and said: "The Iranian threat to the United Arab Emirates is higher than the threat to Israel."
Cohen warned against the Iranians' ambition to pursue nuclear weapons in order to undermine nearby Arab regimes, such as the Emirates, which stands on the other side of the Persian Gulf.
Cohen, who retired from the Mossad last June after five-and-a-half years as head of the intelligence organization, spoke out against conflicting reports about Iran's progress toward becoming a nuclear threshold, as well as about returning to negotiations between Iran and the United States and European countries.
Recently, the chairman of the Emirates' Foreign Affairs Committee expressed his opposition to the resumption of nuclear talks, making it clear that "Iran is not solely the responsibility of Israel" to emphasize the threat to its country.
Cohen, meanwhile, also rejects rumors that he will enter politics as the Likud's candidate for prime minister after Netanyahu: "I am currently a businessman, not in politics," Cohen replied to a question from Israel Today journalist Yoav Limor.
The dialogue between Cohen and Limor took place as stated as part of the opening event of the anniversary of the Avraham agreements.
The event was attended by a business delegation led by the Export Institute and Bank Hapoalim to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with the participation of women and senior businessmen, as well as Israeli entrepreneurs, and is expected to open the business events at Expo Dubai.
Dr. Ron Tomer: "Free trade will accelerate relations between countries"
The new Israeli Ambassador to the Emirates, Amir Haik, who spoke for the first time in his new position, also spoke at the event.
Haik revealed in his speech that a free trade agreement between Israel and the Emirates will soon be signed.
Business sources explain that a feasibility study for such an agreement is currently being conducted.
It is a declarative move with political implications that expresses the close closeness between the parties.
According to Dr. Ron Tomer, chairman of the Manufacturers Association, who is also present at the conference, "A free trade agreement will dramatically accelerate economic relations between Israel and the Emirates, and no less important, will open the door for Israeli exporters to other Gulf and African countries."