[ad_1]
Progress in some areas of normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates has slowed in recent weeks, with an Israeli diplomatic source pointing to the UAE’s designation as a “red country” by Israel’s Ministry of Health.
The designation, which the UAE received late last month, means that Israelis returning from the Emirates must self-quarantine due to the coronavirus pandemic. All other countries that were “green” also turned “red” at the time, effectively shutting down all quarantine-free foreign travel options for Israelis.
In early December, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the Ministry of Health to coordinate any changes in the designation of the United Arab Emirates to minimize its impact on the nascent relations between the countries, which declared that they were making peace in August, giving the beginning of what became known as Abraham. Covenants.
Still, the diplomatic source said the change was a factor that chilled the development of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, along with the third blockade on Israel. Emirati officials have not made progress recently with planned visits to Israel, the source said.
Another area where progress has slowed is the planned visa-free travel agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The agreement would take effect 30 days after the UAE authorizes it. It was originally scheduled to take place in late December or early January, but has been delayed.
The source said that large numbers of Israelis who arrived in the UAE without visas last month, leaving the Emiratis to handle their situation upon arrival, undermined Israel’s efforts on this front.
Another Israeli official said it is difficult to pin down the exact reason for the slowdown. When asked if the upcoming Israeli elections are a factor, he said the results of the American elections, with President Donald Trump about to leave office, could be, too.
A US source involved in the Abraham Accords said Israel took a smart tactic to have the professional level of the Foreign Ministry and other ministries lead the way in relations between Israel and the UAE so that Israeli policy would not get in the way. in the path. As such, he saw ties moving forward as usual, despite Israel currently heading towards an election.
When asked about ties with the UAE moving more slowly than they were, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lior Haiat said: “We don’t feel anything like this. There is no sense of this on our side … We do not feel any difference in diplomatic activities there. “
There is a logistics team in the Foreign Ministry that is working on opening missions to all the Abraham Agreement countries, he said. There is already a mission in Bahrain, which operated in secret before the agreements and is now in the open, he added.
The staff of the Israeli temporary mission to Abu Dhabi has already been selected and “in the coming weeks we will have a physical presence there” as well as in Morocco, Haiat said.
Ariella Steinreich, a communications professional and member of the United Arab Emirates-Israel Business Council who has been intensely involved in business ties between the countries, said she did not feel the enthusiasm has diminished in the private sector.
[ad_2]
