UAE phone lines to Israel open after accord to normalise relations

Telephone lines between the United Arab Emirates and Israel were open on Sunday, calls made by Reuters reporters showed, after the two countries moved to normalise diplomatic relations last week.

It was not clear when exactly a block on telephone calls made from the UAE to Israel was lifted, but historically calls were not possible.

The UAE's Telecoms Regulatory Authority did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

More Israeli news websites that were previously blocked in the UAE were also now able to be viewed on UAE internet connections on Sunday.

An official in Israel's Communication Ministry told Reuters that any previous block on calls between the two countries had come from the UAE side.

"Now I understand that calls are going through," the official said.

The UAE's two main telecoms operators Du and Etisalat did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The UAE is the first Gulf state and third Arab nation to have full diplomatic relations with Israel after Egypt and Jordan.

Turkey’s ruling party on Saturday criticized the deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel to normalize ties as a "political suicide" against the Palestinian cause.