Emirates: The opening of the embassy in Israel is affected by Corona

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the opening of its embassy in Israel was affected by the restrictions imposed on movement there due to the Corona pandemic.

The UAE ministry said, in a statement today, Monday, that it is coordinating with its Israeli counterpart regarding the opening of the UAE embassy in Israel.

She added that "the opening of the embassy is affected at the present time by the current restrictions imposed on movement in the State of Israel to limit the spread of the Corona pandemic."

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its hope that the situation would improve and that the opening of the embassy would be completed soon.

The UAE Cabinet held a meeting yesterday, Sunday, headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during which it approved the establishment of the UAE embassy in Tel Aviv.

Hours later, Israel announced the opening of its embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said - in a statement - that its embassy in the UAE had officially opened, and that the diplomat, Eitan Naih - who would do the work of the embassy until a permanent location was determined for it - had arrived in Abu Dhabi.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation stated that the embassy will start its work from temporary offices until a permanent headquarters is prepared.

Naia was expelled from Ankara on the order of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when relations between Turkey and Tel Aviv deteriorated after the Israeli aggression on Gaza in 2014.

For his part, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi appreciated the opening of the Israeli embassy, ​​and expressed his hope that the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco would open their embassies in Tel Aviv soon.

Sources in the Israeli Foreign Ministry said that consulates for Israel would open in Rabat and Dubai in the coming days.

In mid-September, the two sides (the UAE and Israel) signed an agreement to normalize relations in the White House, under the auspices of former US President Donald Trump.