Virus may restrict first UAE visit to Israeli airport
COVID-19 concerns may keep Emirati diplomats in the airport during their first official visit to Israel, which is experiencing an outbreak.
The first visit by the United Arab Emirates to Israel may be held in the airport due to the COVID-19 situation.
Israeli Science Minister Izhar Shay said the Emirati delegation set to arrive on Tuesday may simply stay at Ben Gurion Airport and then fly home the same day, Reuters reported on Friday.
Israel and the UAE formally established diplomatic relations in September at the White House. Shortly before, Israeli diplomats made their first ever official visit to Abu Dhabi. The first meeting since they officially normalized ties took place in Germany last week. Next week’s visit would be the first official one by Emirati diplomats to Israel.
Shay made the comments to Tel Aviv’s 102 FM radio station. He said that keeping the meeting at the airport as opposed to a tour of the country would be a coronavirus-related precaution due to the recent outbreak in Israel, according to Reuters.
