UAE ENVOY
Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Khaja was sworn as the United Arab Emirates’ first ambassador to Israel by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Dubai Media Office announced on February 14. Rashid urged Khaja to consolidate bilateral ties in a way that promotes a culture of “peace, coexistence and tolerance.” It was not clear when the new envoy would take up his post. The move came after the UAE’s cabinet approved the establishment of an embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi. The UAE and Israel normalized relations in a US-broked deal on September 15, with the signing of the Abraham Accords, which Bahrain also joined.
Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Khaja was sworn as the United Arab Emirates’ first ambassador to Israel by Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Dubai Media Office announced on February 14. Rashid urged Khaja to consolidate bilateral ties in a way that promotes a culture of “peace, coexistence and tolerance.” It was not clear when the new envoy would take up his post. The move came after the UAE’s cabinet approved the establishment of an embassy in Tel Aviv and Israel opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi. The UAE and Israel normalized relations in a US-broked deal on September 15, with the signing of the Abraham Accords, which Bahrain also joined.
GREEN PASS
After a third of its population of nine million had been vaccinated twice against COVID-19, Israel emerged from its third lockdown and began operating a Green Pass system on February 21 to allow those who had been inoculated or had recovered from the virus to participate in business and leisure activities. Shops, malls, markets, museums and libraries were reopened, but only those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 are able to exercise at gyms and pools, attend sporting and cultural events, or stay at hotels. The Health Ministry said the two Pfizer doses had proven to be almost 99% effective in preventing serious disease and death.
After a third of its population of nine million had been vaccinated twice against COVID-19, Israel emerged from its third lockdown and began operating a Green Pass system on February 21 to allow those who had been inoculated or had recovered from the virus to participate in business and leisure activities. Shops, malls, markets, museums and libraries were reopened, but only those who have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 are able to exercise at gyms and pools, attend sporting and cultural events, or stay at hotels. The Health Ministry said the two Pfizer doses had proven to be almost 99% effective in preventing serious disease and death.