Netanyahu-Gantz political wrangling seems to delay departure of delegation to UAE

The Israeli delegation to the United Arab Emirates ahead of the signing of the normalization deal will not depart this week, amid disagreements over its makeup, Hebrew-language media reports.

“There is no date yet for the delegation’s departure,” the Walla news site quotes a senior Israeli official as saying.

The disagreements appear to be over public credit rather than substance.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants the delegation to be led by the National Security Council, which belongs to the Prime Minister’s Office. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party wants the Foreign Ministry to lead it. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi is from Blue and White.

The cabinet is expected to be briefed on the agreement on Tuesday, Walla reports.

After the initiation of direct phone calls between the countries earlier today, the next normalization steps to be discussed are expected to be flights between the countries and mutual travel.

Meanwhile, the Kan public broadcaster reports that Bahrain intends to wait until the formal signing of the Israel-UAE deal before announcing its own normalization of ties with the Jewish state.

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