JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israeli national rugby team held a historic first friendly game with the UAE’s national team in Dubai Friday as part of what has been termed the Abraham Accord Friendship Cup, named for the peace accords signed between the two countries last September.
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The teams played two games together. Firstly the Israeli team trounced the Emiratis 33-0 and then the teams mixed with a “blue” team composed of players from both teams played a similar “white” team. The white team won that game 50-40.
After the games, as the Shabbat came in, the Israeli team made kiddush, which was captured by a local cameraman:
https://twitter.com/michaldivon/status/1372979177406750742
Israeli president Reuven Rivlin congratulated the teams in a video message, praising the “wonderful expression of the new spirit of people-to-people peace following the historic Abraham Accords.
“While leaders may sign peace agreements, true peace requires people on both sides to build bonds of friendship and cooperation in every arena.”
There are now ongoing talks to organise a friendly match between Emirati and Israeli women’s teams in Tel Aviv. Israeli president of the Israeli Rugby Association said that he hopes the game between the countries will become an annual event and added that “of course, they want to come to Israel.”