The United Arab Emirates Embassy in Tel Aviv officially opened for business in a special ceremony presided over by President Isaac Herzog and Emirati Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Al Khaja.
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Israeli and Emirati flags were raised outside the building.
In his speech, Al Khaja expressed hope that the inauguration would be a milestone for relations "between the peoples and the nations."
Video: Ariel Kahana
Herzog thanked former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his part in normalizing ties between Israel and the UAE, saying, "The peace between us will benefit both peoples, through our cooperation in health and medicine. Our peace agreement will save lives. Through shared initiatives on security and food and water, this agreement will lead to a more flexible, sustainable future. And through dialogue between people, both our cultures will be enriched."
"Despite the decision of the Emirati leadership to open the door of warm friendship between our peoples, the friendship isn't only of importance to Israel and the UAE, but to the entire Middle East. The Abraham Accords will promote stability and security throughout our region, and serve as an example to everyone of the enormous promise and potential of peace," Herzog continued.
Herzog said, that the "historic peace" must be expanded to other countries who wanted closer ties with Israel
"We are a peace-seeking people, and want a peace that will be responded to positively and with a strong handshake. In my recent phone calls with regional leaders, I again realized that we have many more partners and allies in this mission than we thought. Both Judaism and Islam teach that one of the names of God is 'peace,'" Herzog said.
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