FM Lapid opens Israel embassy in Abu Dhabi

Israel's foreign minister on Tuesday inaugurated Israel's Embassy in the United Arab Emirates, kicking off the highest-level visit by an Israeli official to the Gulf Arab state since the two countries normalized relations nine months ago.

Yair Lapid together with the Emirati Culture Minister Noura Al-Kaabi joined Rabbi Levi Duchman, the Rabbi of the UAE, in putting a mezuzah at the door of the newly inaugurated embassy.

The mezuzah is a parchment inscribed with religious texts and attached in a case to the doorpost of a Jewish house as a sign of faith.

It is usually the last thing to be put on a new home or office as part of an inauguration.

Lapid is later expected to meet UAE's foreign minister, with talks likely to focus in part on Iran, which both countries view as a top regional threat.

The Emiratis and Israelis had strong reservations about the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers brokered by the Obama administration, which aimed to limit Tehran's ability to develop nuclear weapons.

Their shared concerns that the deal did not go far enough helped propel quiet ties and covert meetings long before they formally announced full diplomatic relations last year.

The Trump administration brokered the agreement that established ties between the UAE and Israel. It was hailed at the time by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump as among their greatest achievements.

IMAGE: AP