Israel to open mission in UAE despite absence of diplomatic relations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Israel is to open its first diplomatic mission in the UAE, Israel says, despite the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries, BBC News reports.

Israel's foreign ministry says its office will be part of an international energy organization based in Abu Dhabi.

Israel has opened trade and other offices in some Gulf states before, but there are no official ties.

The UAE, like most other Arab states, has not recognised Israel since the Arab-Israeli conflict began in 1948.

Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon confirmed a report in Haaretz newspaper and said the mission will be accredited to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA).

According to Haaretz, the foreign ministry's director general Dore Gold visited Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to finalise the plans. It is not known when the mission will open.

The UAE, a federation of seven emirates, has not commented on the reports.

The Gulf state generally bars Israeli passport holders from visiting the country, although Israeli sportspeople have participated in international events there.