New UAE Ambassador to Israel Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah will take office on Monday, five months after the two countries signed a historic treaty to normalize relations.
The appointment of Al Khajah, who is both a top diplomatic representative and a member of the UAE royal family, is seen in Jerusalem as a sign of the importance of the Emiratis feature to their new relationship with Israel.
Awaiting a negative coronavirus test, Al Khajah will go to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem to submit his credentials to the ministry’s chief executive before meeting with Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.
Later, Al Khajah will meet with President Reuven Rivlin ahead of a reception celebrating the UAE ambassador to Israel.
The ceremony will include an honorary IDF parade, as well as an armed orchestra playing both the national anthems of Emirati and Israel.
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Emirati PM Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum swears in Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah as ambassador to Israel
On Tuesday, the new ambassador is expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.
On Friday, Al Khajah wrote on Twitter: “For Emiratis and Israelis, a new chapter of openness, understanding and wealth begins. Looking forward to my first visit. See you next week. Shabbat Shalom. “
Al Khajah will then join a United Arab Emirates foreign ministry delegation that has been in Israel for two weeks to find funds that could be used by the embassy, bringing its -in the house where the ambassador lives with family.
The new ambassador is expected to return to his country at the weekend and will return to Israel only after the embassy is officially established.
The embassy is expected to formally open after Passover, which begins March 27.