Tel Aviv: UAE open embassy in Israel

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Israeli President Izchak Herzog and the new Ambassador of the UAE, Mohammed al-Hadscha, at the opening ceremony in Tel Aviv

Photo: AMIR COHEN / REUTERS

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) are now also represented diplomatically in Israel.

The country's embassy was opened in Tel Aviv.

Ambassador Mohammed al-Hadscha hoisted the flag in front of the Tel Aviv stock exchange building, in which the new diplomatic mission of the Gulf state is located.

Israel's new President Izchak Herzog was also present at the ceremony.

He called the opening an "important step for the entire Middle East".

In June, Israel opened an embassy in the Gulf region for the first time in Abu Dhabi, and there is also a consulate general in Dubai.

Foreign Minister Jair Lapid, an Israeli foreign minister, traveled to the UAE for the first time at the opening.

At the opening, Lapid called for further rapprochement in the region.

“Israel wants peace with its neighbors.

With all his neighbors, ”said Lapid.

The mutual opening of the diplomatic missions is the result of years of diplomatic efforts.

Most Arab countries refused to recognize Israel for decades.

Recently, however, several states, including Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, normalized their relations with Israel.

The rapprochement and several agreements followed after the mediation of the USA under the then President Donald Trump.

Israel and the UAE are united by concern about Iran's activities in the region; behind the scenes, the states have been cooperating on security issues for some time.

Both sides now hope that the closer cooperation will bring further advantages for economic development.

The countries had recently started direct flights to each other.

fek / Reuters / dpa