Opening of first Israeli embassy in Gulf a ‘historic moment’, says Yair Lapid
By AFP
04 July 2021 |
3:49 pm
Israel's top diplomat Yair Lapid opens the Jewish state's first embassy in the Gulf, during a trip to the United Arab Emirates after the countries normalised ties last year. "Israel wants peace with its neighbours. With all its neighbours. We aren't going anywhere. The Middle East is our home. We're here to stay. We call on all the countries of the region to recognise that. And to come talk to us," Lapid says during the opening ceremony. Since their US-brokered normalisation agreement was announced in August last year, Israel and the UAE have signed a raft of deals ranging from tourism to aviation and financial services.
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