Israel’s Yair Lapid in the UAE on first official visit

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid inaugurates embassy in Abu Dhabi on first day of two-day visit to the Gulf state.

Israel’s foreign minister arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, kicking off the highest-level visit by an Israeli official to the Gulf Arab state since the two countries formally established relations nine months ago. At the inauguration of the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid told diplomats that it was an “historic moment”. “The Middle East is our home and we’re here to stay. So we call on all the countries of the region to recognise that and to come and talk to us,” he said.