Israel to send Cabinet minister to Persian Gulf emirate of Abu Dhabi for first time
By APSaturday, January 16, 2010
First Israeli Cabinet minister to visit Abu Dhabi
JERUSALEM — Israel will for the first time send a Cabinet minister to Abu Dhabi, an Arab nation that does not have diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau will attend a conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency opening Sunday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Saturday this was a first visit by an Israeli Cabinet minister to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. But he added it was “within the framework of an international conference and not in a bilateral framework.”
The agency’s activities are open to Israel because it is a member state. It is not clear whether Landau will meet with emirate leaders.
Israel has diplomatic ties with two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan.
