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Israel's Foreign Minister Lapid in Abu Dhabi: "Come and talk to us"
Photo: Shlomi Amsalem / dpa
It is the culmination of years of efforts: after establishing diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an Israeli Foreign Minister has traveled to the country on the Gulf for the first time. Foreign Minister Jair Lapid called on Middle Eastern countries to take similar steps during his visit to Abu Dhabi, where he opened the Israeli embassy on Tuesday. “Israel wants peace with its neighbors. With all his neighbors, ”said Lapid. “We want all countries in the region to recognize that. Come and talk to us. "
Israel signed the agreements known as the Abraham Accords with the Emirates as well as with Bahrain in September.
Previously, only two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan, had diplomatic relations with Israel.
The agreements followed after mediation by the USA under the then President Donald Trump.
Most Arab countries refused to recognize Israel for decades.
As part of his two-day visit, Lapid was supposed to meet his Emirati counterpart Abdullah bin Sajid and open a consulate general in Dubai.
In Dubai he wanted to take part in the official opening of the Israeli pavilion for the world exhibition planned for October.
After landing in Abu Dhabi, Lapid thanked him on Twitter for the “warm welcome”.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to visit the Emirates in March.
His visit was canceled at short notice due to difficulties in coordinating the flight in Jordanian airspace.
According to media reports, Netanyahu was supposed to meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the de facto ruler of the Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Sajid.
Behind the scenes, Israel and the Emirates have been cooperating for a long time, for example on security issues.
Both sides are now hoping for more economic benefits and want to work together in the areas of tourism and science.
The countries have started direct flights to each other and announced the opening of embassies.
fek / dpa / AFP