Israel Opens Its Pavilion With Big Bash At Dubai's Expo 2020

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Dubai Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

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By Associated Press

October 7, 2021 at 3:47 PM UTC

Updated on

October 7, 2021 at 5:25 PM UTC

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 U.S.-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.