Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid at the inauguration ceremony at Israel’s embassy in Abu Dhabi UAE June 29, 2021. (Credit: twitter.com/IsraelMFA)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Israeli Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, inaugurated on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the Israeli embassy in the United Arab Emirates, the first ever in the Gulf. Lapid’s appearance marked the highest-level visit by an Israeli official to the Gulf Arab state since the two countries formally established relations nine months ago.
“Israel wants peace with with all its neighbors. 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 recognize that and to come talk to us.”
-Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid
FM @yairlapid inaugurates the embassy of @israelintheUAE:
"This isn't a moment of details or a complex agreement, it's a moment of simplicity, people looking at one another and saying – we prefer peace." pic.twitter.com/UD905tRqMz
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 29, 2021
The United States Welcomed Historic opening of Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi
“The United States welcomes the historic opening of the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the visit of Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid, for the ceremony hosted by UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Foreign Minister Lapid’s trip, the first to the UAE by an Israeli Foreign Minister, and the opening of the first Israeli Embassy in a Gulf state are significant for Israel, the UAE, and the broader region. The United States will continue to work with Israel and the UAE as we strengthen all aspects of our partnerships and work to create a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous future for all the peoples of the Middle East.”
-US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken
Former US President Donald Trump’s administration brokered the so-called “Abraham Accords” agreement that established ties between the UAE and Israel.
