Israel’s new embassy in the United Arab Emirates represents the latest step in warming ties between the Jewish state and its neighbors in the region.
By Ezra Stone, United with Israel
On Sunday, Israel announced the opening of its embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which represents the beginning of a new chapter in relations between the Jewish state and its Arab neighbors in the region.
Israel and the UAE agreed to establish official relations as part of the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, which ushered in full diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Following the Israel-UAE deal, three other Arab Muslim countries joined the Abraham Accords, with Israel inking peace deals with Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.
Israel is reportedly negotiating a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia, which appears to be delaying the deal until recently inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden settles into office.
While Saudi Arabia has said publicly that it won’t establish official relations with Israel until it comes to an agreement with the Palestinians, the Saudis have quietly signaled a major shift in the kingdom’s posture toward the Jewish state.
Most recently, an Israeli team was welcomed by Saudi Arabia to compete in the Dakar Rally, with some members entering the country using their Israeli passports.
Saudi Arabia has also opened its air space to Israeli commercial planes, slashing flight times from Tel Aviv to India and other destinations in Asia.
With regard the Israel’s new UAE embassy, Israel’s Foreign Ministry announced that while a permanent location is being prepared, a temporary facility was opening.
Israeli diplomat Eitan Na’eh will be installed as the head of the UAE mission. Meanwhile, the UAE cabinet on Sunday also approved an embassy in Tel Aviv.
An Israeli embassy has already been open for several weeks in Bahrain.