Israel and Qatar have signed an agreement to establish low-level economic ties, the second such accord between Israel and a Persian Gulf state.
The agreement to open trade offices in each other’s countries was reached Tuesday, while Prime Minister Shimon Peres was making the first official trip by an Israeli leader to the emirate.
The decision to forge economic links, which represents a step just short of forging official diplomatic ties, came in the wake of a recent agreement under which Qatar said it would sell natural gas to Israel.
During Peres’ visit, which lasted only several hours, the two countries also agreed on a series of joint business projects.
As part of the new opening with Israel, Qatar agreed for the first time to provide visas to visting Israeli businesspeople.
In a show of hospitality, Qatari officials invited the Israeli delegation to stay on after Peres’ departure.
But the Israelis explained that they had another prior commitment — to be home in time for the Passover seder.
Peres arrived in Qatar from Oman, which already has established economic ties with Israel.
Although Israel and Oman have no formal diplomatic ties, Peres was received at the airport Monday with a full state ceremony and military band.
During a meeting between Peres and Oman’s ruler, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the two leaders affirmed their commitment to a comprehensive Middle East peace and to developing bilateral relations.
Peres’ trip to Oman, aimed at extending trade, came after Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin visited there in December 1994.
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