Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid (centre) applauds as a plaque is revealed during an inauguration ceremony at Israel's embassy in Abu Dhabi [Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)/Reuters]
Abu Dhabi: Yair Lapid, Israel's foreign minister, on Tuesday, inaugurated the country's new embassy in Abu Dhabi during his first United Arab Emirates visit, reports The Guardian. As the two countries normalised their relations last year, Lapid said in the inauguration ceremony that Israel wants peace with his neighbours. The Middle East is their home, they are not running away, and every other country of the region should recognise that, he said.
Though many Israeli ministers had visited UAE, Lapid is senior-most and the first with an official mission. The trip was wildly viewed as the countries new government's attempts for new diplomatic inroads. Lapid praised former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "architect of the accords and new relationships.
Both countries cooperated quietly for years and signed the diplomatic agreement of Abraham Accords in August 2020. This had broken the taboo that Israel would be isolated in the region until the Palestine issue is resolved.
Lapid is expected to inaugurate a consulate in Dubai and sign a bilateral economic cooperation agreement during his two-day visit. This includes trade deals believed to be more than 354 million dollars.
Countries like Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan also have extended hands for new diplomatic ties with Israel.