Israeli Foreign Minister to Make First Visit to UAE

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that Lapid will visit the UAE on June 29-30. (Reuters)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that Lapid will visit the UAE on June 29-30. (Reuters)
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Israeli Foreign Minister to Make First Visit to UAE

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that Lapid will visit the UAE on June 29-30. (Reuters)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Monday that Lapid will visit the UAE on June 29-30. (Reuters)

Israel’s new foreign minister will head to the United Arab Emirates next week for the first-ever visit by a top Israeli diplomat to the Gulf country, the ministry said Monday.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid’s visit comes after the two countries normalized relations last year in an agreement brokered by the Trump administration, the first of four similar deals with Arab states.

Both Israel's new government and the Biden administration have said they hope to reach similar accords with other Arab states.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Lapid will visit the UAE on June 29-30, and will inaugurate an Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi and a consulate in Dubai.

Lapid was the driving force behind a new Israeli government sworn in just over a week ago that ended Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's record 12-year rule. Netanyahu had held up the agreements with the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco as among his biggest achievements.



Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan Hold Third Round of Political Consultations

A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)
A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)
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Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan Hold Third Round of Political Consultations

A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)
A night view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (Reuters file)

The ministries of foreign affairs of Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan held the third round of political consultations at the Saudi ministry headquarters in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji and Tajik Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Farrukh Sharifzoda headed their respective sides during the meeting.

Discussions focused on boosting bilateral relations between the two countries across various sectors, as well as intensifying bilateral and multilateral coordination on issues of mutual interest.

The consultation round was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Tajikistan Waleed Abdulrahman Alreshaidan, Tajik Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Akram Karimi, and Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of Asian Countries Director Nasser Al-Ghanoum.