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Illustrative: Jews and Arabs sharing an Iftar (break-fast) meal together during the month of Ramadan, in the town of Tayibe, June 9, 2016. (Dov Lieber/Times of Israel)
The Israeli Federation of Local Authorities canceled Sunday’s traditional iftar evening meal, marking the breaking of the day’s Ramadan fast, following the controversial invitation of the United Arab Emirates ambassador to Israel to the event.
The planned participation of Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khajah in the Iftar event caused outrage among leaders of some of the Arab locals, telling the head of the union, Haim Bibas, they would boycott the event, the Walla news site reported.
Nonprofit Start-Up Nation Central and UAE's Ambassador to Israel Mohamed Mahmoud Al Khajah to set up team to help connect Emirati and Israeli entrepreneurs in host of fields
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Tourists on a yacht as they pass a traditional dhow serving a dinner cruise, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 12, 2021 (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The official news agency of the United Arab Emirates launched a Hebrew-language news service Tuesday that will focus on information relating to the normalization of ties between the countries.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) said in a statement that the service will “provide comprehensive media content in Hebrew, including news and written and audio-visual reports.”
Updates will be posted to the news site and on the agency’s social media accounts.
WAM CEO Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi said that the service will provide content on the bilateral ties between Israel and the UAE following the signing in September 2020 of a normalization deal.
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The UAE s first ambassador to Israel, Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah, with President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem on March 1, 2021. (Mark Neyman/GPO)
The United Arab Emirates’ first ambassador to Israel, Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah, completed his preliminary visit to Israel Friday after meeting with the country’s top leadership and scouting out suitable locations for the embassy and his home.
“Thanks for the warm greeting Tel Aviv-Yafo,” Al Khaja tweeted. “Feels a lot like Abu Dhabi and Dubai dynamic and diverse cities set along the water.
“Looking forward to running and biking along the Tayelet when I’m back,” he said, using the Hebrew word for Tel Aviv’s promenade. “See you again soon.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday held his first meeting with the new Emirati Ambassador to Israel, Mohammad Mahmoud Al Khajah, following the