Israel and UAE open talks over top-secret oil pipeline

Israel and UAE open talks over top-secret oil pipeline

Israel and the United Arab Emirates have opened talks over an oil pipeline linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean and whose operations Israeli officials treat as top secret.

Europe Asia Pipeline Co, controlled by Israel's government, and UAE-based MED-RED Land Bridge Ltd signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the transportation of crude and oil products between the Arabian Gulf and Western markets, according to an EAPC statement on Tuesday.

Visit follows UAE and Israel signing a US-brokered deal to normalise ties at the White House on September 15

The agreement comes after the UAE, OPEC's third-biggest oil producer, and Israel announced in August they would normalise ties. The two have since discussed establishing embassies, starting direct flights and business deals.

EAPC operates the Eilat-Ashkelon pipeline, built by Israel and Iran in the 1960s. It has