search

Israel opens its pavilion with big bash at Dubai’s Expo 2020

Flasy videos promote Israeli tech and sights, as Hebrew music plays and balloons fly — amid high security

Jewish and Arab attendees celebrate the opening of the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, October 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Jewish and Arab attendees celebrate the opening of the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, October 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel ceremonially opened its gleaming pavilion at the world’s fair in Dubai on Thursday, over a year after normalizing ties with the United Arab Emirates and amid a pandemic that has disrupted much of the tourist and cultural exchanges promised by the United States-brokered accords.

The pavilion’s arch — chock-full of flashy videos promoting Israel’s windmills, high-tech advances and historic sights — came to life as night fell. Zany Hebrew music played and patriotic balloons floated — all within eyesight of the Palestinian pavilion nearby.

The Palestinian pavilion has not officially opened its doors at Expo 2020, and employees have reported struggling to get handicrafts out of the Israeli-controlled West Bank.

There was a noticeable presence of close protection officers wearing dark suits and earpieces at the Israeli party. Security shepherded reporters through x-ray body scanners into a separate room, a level of security unseen at other pavilion visited by The Associated Press.

“I am delighted to invite all of you to come and visit my country,” Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov told the crowd of revelers after cutting the ribbon.

Israeli officials, in Dubai to cement ties after the two countries inked a long-awaited visa waiver agreement this week, walked through the mirrored pavilion, their reflections unfolding around them.

Emiratis in traditional floor-length white dress gazed at panoramic views of Jerusalem’s Old City gliding across vertical screens, as a pop rendition of Shalom Aleichem played. Jewish attendees wore skullcaps emblazoned with the tourist logo of the UAE.

Israeli Tourism Minister Yoel Razvozov (right) and Emirati Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises Ahmad Belhoul al-Falasi attend a ceremony at the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, October 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

“It’s not only [about] pavilions and visitors’ centers,” Noam Katz, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said of the Israeli presence at Dubai’s Expo. “It’s power gathering.”

Ahead of Foreign Minister Yair Lapid’s trip to Washington next week, Katz said that Israel is increasingly alarmed about Iran’s nuclear advances in the wake of the now-tattered nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers.

Amir Halevi, the Israeli Tourism Ministry’s director-general, speaks to The Associated Press at the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, October 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

“We are talking with everyone about our own concerns,” Katz said. “Israel will defend itself as needed, but we think it should be a combined effort with the international community to deal with the problems and the threats that Iran is posing.”

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and that its recent escalations are meant as leverage to bring the US back to the deal. Former US president Donald Trump pulled America out of the deal in 2018 and imposed tighter economic sanctions on Iran.

Noam Katz, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson, speaks to The Associated Press at the Israeli pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, October 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

Amir Halevi, the Tourism Ministry’s director-general, said that he expects an influx of Israeli tourists to visit Expo 2020 in the coming months as virus-induced travel restrictions ease.

Both officials said that they have not entered the Palestinian Authority’s towering stone structure across the street, but that they would consider a visit.

“We wish them big success,” Halevi said.

read more:
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering also lets you comment on articles and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.