Eritrea to open embassy in Israel

JERUSALEM, June 21 (AFP) — The east African state of Eritrea is to become the first country to open an embassy in Israel in more than four years, the government here announced Monday.

Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom had received an official message from the Eritrean government declaring its intention to open the embassy, a government statement said.

“This development comes in the wake of intensive efforts by FM Shalom and the ministry of foreign affairs to improve and to establish relations with Arab and Muslim countries,” the statement added.

Israel opened an embassy in Eritrea in 1993, two years after it achieved independence.