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Report: Israeli foreign minister postpones Dubai visit over Iran security worries

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had planned to attend the Expo 2020 in Dubai, but was “instructed by security officials” to put off the visit due to the uptick in tensions between Iran and the United States.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz is seen during an election campaign tour of the Likud Party in Jerusalem on Sept. 16, 2019. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz is seen during an election campaign tour of the Likud Party in Jerusalem on Sept. 16, 2019. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has postponed a visit to the city of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this month because of security concerns related to increased tensions between Iran and the United States, Reuters reported on Sunday.

Katz had planned to attend the Expo 2020 in Dubai, but “on the instruction of security officials” put off the visit, said an Israeli diplomat, according to the report.

Another diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying that the move was a precautionary measure against Iran possibly attempting to target Katz as retaliation for the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on Jan. 3.

Israel has a pavilion at the expo, despite the fact that there are no formal diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi.

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