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Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (archive image)
Photo: JACK GUEZ / AFP
There were already letters of intent recently, and flights between the countries have been possible again since last year.
Now Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have taken another symbolic step towards normalizing diplomatic relations: Israel has opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi.
As reported by the AP news agency, among others, the representation of Israel will initially be set up temporarily until a permanent seat is found.
Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said the new message would allow the already good relations with the UAE to be further improved.
According to the AP, the long-time diplomat Eitan Na'eh will be the head of the diplomatic mission.
The Emirates had already decided to start diplomatic relations with Israel in mid-August.
Since then there have been scheduled flights again between the states, and thousands of Israelis have already visited the UAE as tourists.
Trade delegations from both countries also met.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of an "historic peace" and a "day like few in the history of Israel" following the parliamentary resolution to start diplomatic relations with the UAE in October.
Emirates want to follow suit with an embassy in Tel Aviv
In return, the Emirates will soon open an embassy in Tel Aviv.
The move was decided after a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed bin Raschid al-Maktum, reported the state agency WAM.
In return for the agreement, Israel wants to suspend the planned annexation of areas in the occupied West Bank.
The West Bank is claimed by the Palestinians as a state of their own.
In addition to rapprochement with the UAE, Israel - partly through the mediation of the USA - had established diplomatic relations with Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
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fek / dpa / AP / Reuters
