Israel cancels participation in UAE defense expo, citing air travel curbs

Officials from Defense Ministry and Regional Cooperation Ministry said the plan was canceled.

By REUTERS
The departure hall at the almost empty Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on January 25, 2021. (photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)
The departure hall at the almost empty Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv on January 25, 2021.
(photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)
Israel has canceled its planned participation in a major defense expo in the United Arab Emirates next week due to COVID-19 curbs on air travel, Israeli officials said on Monday.
Dozens of Israeli defense firms had been due to take part in the IDEX conference in Abu Dhabi on February 21-25 - a first for both countries, which last September established formal relations.
But officials from the Defense Ministry and Regional Cooperation Ministry said the plan was canceled.
They cited Israel's January 26 ban on international air travel, which is still in force as it tries to reverse a surge in COVID-19 contagion.