Israel’s highest-ranking diplomat, Yair Lapid, arrived in the United Arab Emirates yesterday, marking the first official visit by an Israeli minister to the Gulf state.

The Israeli Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister who was sworn in on June 13^th 2021, is being hosted by UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan from June 29-30. As part of his state visit, Lapid today visited the EXPO site in Dubai, accompanied by Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi the Minister of State for International Cooperation and Managing Director for the Dubai World Expo 2020 Bid Committee. Lapid went on to visit Israel’s Pavilion with Israel Pavilion’s Commissioner General, Elazar Cohen.

In a statement to the media, Lapid said: “Israel wants peace with its neighbours. With all its neighbours. We aren’t going anywhere. The Middle East is our home. We’re here to stay. We call on all the countries of the region to recognise that and to come and talk to us.”

Cohen added: “It is an honour to welcome Her Excellency Reem Ebrahim Al-Hashimi and our Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to Israel’s Pavilion. Our presence at Expo 2020 Dubai is a great opportunity for both our countries. During the EXPO, the Israeli pavilion will serve as a platform to establish bilateral cooperation in business, industry, investments, culture and academia. For the first time visitors across the Middle East will be exposed to Israel’s culture and heritage, our innovation contributions to global human issues as well as our coexistence society.”