JERUSALEM — The Israeli prime minister, Naftali Bennett, met the de facto leader of the United Arab Emirates, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, on Monday during a historic official visit by an Israeli leader to the Gulf state.
The meeting showcased the consolidation of ties between parts of the Arab world and Israel, which was long ostracized by most Arab governments until last fall, when Israeli officials began to establish formal diplomatic relationships with four Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
The four-hour meeting, which lasted two hours longer than planned, also highlighted the shifting geopolitical priorities for some Middle Eastern leaders, for whom the possible threat of a nuclear Iran is now of greater concern than an immediate resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
