TEL AVIV, July 15: Following last year's agreement to normalise diplomatic
ties between the two countries, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) opened its embassy
in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday, becoming the first Gulf State to open an
embassy here.
The inauguration of the new UAE mission, housed in the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
building, was attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Emirati Ambassador Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah, who had presented his credentials
in March, said at the opening ceremony, “It is a great honor to open the embassy
here. Ten months ago our two countries signed the Abraham Accords with a vision
of dignity, prosperity and peace for the two peoples...This is just the beginning.
Both countries are innovative nations and we will harness these new approaches
for the prosperity of the countries.”
Khaja listed the areas of cooperation such as between universities, hospitals
and researchers in Israel and the UAE, and in economics, air travel and agriculture.
He said they are “just the beginning.”
The embassy opening is an “important step for the entire Middle East,” said
Herzog, who took office last week. "To see the Emirati flag in the skies of
Tel Aviv would have seemed a distant dream. Today it is a reality...This blessed
process cannot stop,” he said. “In my recent telephone conversations with leaders
of the region, I again understand that we have more partners and allies in this
mission than we thought,” he added.
Israel and Emirates entered into an agreement last August, called Abraham
Accords, brokered by the US. Later, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco also joined the
accord.