Israel and Maldives to restore diplomatic ties

Jerusalem: Israel and the Maldives -- the
world`s smallest Muslim country -- have renewed full
diplomatic relations after 15 years, the foreign ministry
said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and a senior
Maldives official signed agreements to that effect on the
sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
"The two countries have decided to cooperate in the
fields of tourism, health and education," an official at the
ministry said.

The majority of Muslim countries have no diplomatic ties
with Israel.
A nation of 300,000 Muslims, the Maldives is an India
ocean archipelago popular with scuba divers and wealthy
tourists.

Bureau Report