UAE ratifies visa exemption agreement with Israel

ISTANBUL, Jan 14  -- The United Arab Emirates approved a visa exemption agreement with Israel on Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reported Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The agreement will come into force within 30 days and Israeli citizens will be able to go to the UAE without a visa, the statement said.

With the agreement coming into force, the UAE became the first Arab country whose citizens could enter Israel without a visa, Anadolu Agency’s report said.

Israel and the UAE signed a US-sponsored deal on Sept 15 last year to normalise their relations, a move that was followed by Bahrain and Sudan and recently Morocco.

The normalisation agreements have drawn widespread condemnation from Palestinians, who say the accords ignore their rights and do not serve the Palestinian cause.

-- BERNAMA