Emirati Technical Team Arrives in Israel to Prepare for Embassy Opening

The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway in Netanya, Israel (File Photo: Reuters)
The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway in Netanya, Israel (File Photo: Reuters)
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Emirati Technical Team Arrives in Israel to Prepare for Embassy Opening

The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway in Netanya, Israel (File Photo: Reuters)
The national flags of Israel and the United Arab Emirates flutter along a highway in Netanya, Israel (File Photo: Reuters)

An Emirati technical delegation has arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, despite the coronavirus measures which included the closure of Ben Gurion Airport.

The team will prepare for the Emirati embassy opening in Tel Aviv and arrange the final necessary measures.

A government source said that the relevant ministries granted the Emirati delegation a special permit enabling it to enter Israel, despite the lockdown.

He considered the move an indication that "launching bilateral relations is an urgent need for both."

Earlier, Mohamed Mahmoud al-Khaja was sworn in as UAE's ambassador to Israel by Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid at a ceremony at al-Watan Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed wished Khaja success in his mission, calling on the ambassador to work sincerely to strengthen friendship and cooperation relations with Israel, and to maintain the culture of peace, coexistence, and tolerance between the two nations' peoples and the peoples of the region, according to the foreign ministry.

Israel has appointed Eitan Naeh to set up a temporary mission in Abu Dhabi. The diplomat served as an ambassador in China, Japan, Switzerland, and Turkey before he was expelled by Ankara.

He will be the first Israeli to receive a full diplomatic status in the UAE and his temporary mission will help establish a permanent embassy.

Upon his arrival, Naeh tweeted saying “excited to be here will be an understatement,” adding that he is ready to open the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi.

Israel had closed its main airport until the end of January, as part of additional measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The closure was extended for additional weeks, hindering the expansion of exchanged flights between the two countries.



Saudi Arabia’s Relief Campaign Continues to Provide Aid in Palestine, Syria

Trucks near Jordan’s Jaber Border Crossing en route to the Syrian capital as part of the air and land relief bridges (SPA)
Trucks near Jordan’s Jaber Border Crossing en route to the Syrian capital as part of the air and land relief bridges (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s Relief Campaign Continues to Provide Aid in Palestine, Syria

Trucks near Jordan’s Jaber Border Crossing en route to the Syrian capital as part of the air and land relief bridges (SPA)
Trucks near Jordan’s Jaber Border Crossing en route to the Syrian capital as part of the air and land relief bridges (SPA)

The Saudi Popular Campaign to aid the Palestinian people in Gaza has reached a significant milestone, with donations surpassing SAR714 million (over $190 million) from more than 2.1 million contributors, according to official figures.

Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Saudi Arabia has dispatched 58 relief aircraft loaded with humanitarian supplies, coordinated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Ministry of Defense. The planes have carried shelter materials, food baskets, and medical equipment, all bound for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

Launched in November 2023 under the directive of King Salman bin Abdulaziz, the campaign has collected both financial and in-kind donations. Contributions include ambulances, medical supplies, food, baby formula, and dates. The initiative began with a generous personal donation of SAR50 million (more than $13 million) from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

As of March, the total weight of Saudi aid to Gaza via air and sea exceeded 7,188 tons, transported through 58 planes and 8 ships. The aid included shelter items, food and medical supplies, 20 ambulances, 30 power generators, 10 water tanks, and 62 logistical units. Air drops alone delivered over 39,200 ready-to-eat meals and 500 sets of parachute-assisted relief items.

KSrelief has implemented 131 projects in Palestine at a value of more than $514 million. These initiatives have focused heavily on food security, agriculture, health, and shelter, in addition to other sectors.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen. On Tuesday, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported the death toll from the Israeli offensive has reached 50,810 since October 7, 2023, with over 115,688 wounded. Since Israel resumed its attacks on March 18, following a two-month ceasefire, 1,449 Palestinians have been killed and 3,647 injured.

In Syria, KSrelief has remained a leading contributor through its “Sahem” donation platform, especially in response to the 2023 earthquake that struck both Syria and Türkiye. Donation opportunities include emergency aid, home reconstruction, and medical support—totaling nearly $140 million.