In a historic diplomatic move, Israel has announced the appointment of its first ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is the first such diplomatic outreach between the two countries since the inception of Israel.
The move following the signing of a normalization deal between the two countries last year, the Israeli foreign ministry said on Sunday. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement that he has chosen Amir Haik, an economist and former director of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment, to take the job.
“Haik has rich experience and knowledge in the fields of economics and tourism,” Lapid said, adding that Haik is “the right man to establish the bridge between Israel and the UAE,” Yair Lapid said.
The appointment came after Israel opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi in June and the UAE opened its embassy in Tel Aviv in July this year. Israel and the UAE have signed the US-brokered normalization deal in September 2020.
