Azerbaijan will be opening an embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, after its Parliament approved the decision on Nov. 18 in what officials say will help improve continued economic relations and cooperation between the two nations.
The move would make Azerbaijan—which shares borders with Iran, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey—the first Shiite majority country to do so.
Both Azerbaijan and Israel share joint concerns over Iran, which has been steadily advancing its nuclear program.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, welcomed the move in a statement on Friday, stating that Azerbaijan is an “important partner of Israel and home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the Muslim world.”…