Thursday , November 7 2024

Islamabad will not recognize Tel Aviv: Pakistan

25-01-2021

By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report

ISLAMABAD/ DUBAI/ JERUSALEM: In December last year, following Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he said the Emirati leadership apprised him of their position during his visit.

He said he in turn apprised the Emirati leadership of Pakistan’s position on Israel and stressed that Islamabad will not recognize Tel Aviv until the Palestine issue is resolved.

Qureshi denied any pressure on Pakistan to recognize Israel.

On the other hand the UAE Cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of an embassy in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel, state media said.

The UAE and Israel agreed to normalize relations in August, a deal forged largely over shared fears of Iran.

Israel had signed peace agreements with Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 but the UAE, along with most other Arab nations, did not recognize Israel and had no formal diplomatic or economic relations with it until last year.

A joint statement issued by the US, Israel and the Emirates said Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed had “agreed to the full normalization of relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates”.

“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region,” the statement said.

Since then Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco have all agreed to establish ties with Israel in deals brokered in 2020 by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

Israel’s government regards Jerusalem as its capital, although that is not recognized by most of the international community. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Most countries have their embassies in Tel Aviv.

No further details about the embassy were given in UAE media.

Meanwhile, the embassy would be in a temporary office while a permanent location is prepared.

Israel on Sunday said it has opened its embassy in the UAE, following through on last year’s U.S.-brokered agreement to establish full diplomatic ties with the Gulf country.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the embassy would be in a temporary office while a permanent location is prepared. Eitan Na’eh, a veteran Israeli diplomat, will serve as the head of mission.

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi said the opening of the new embassy would allow the broadening of what already are warm ties between Israel and the U.A.E.

The U.A.E cabinet on Sunday approved the establishment of an embassy in Tel Aviv in Israel, state-run WAM news agency reported.

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