It was the last nation to begin construction. While many countries received invitations to participate in Expo almost immediately after Dubai won the bid in 2013, Syria said it was invited just two years ago - not long after the UAE reopened its embassy in Damascus in a sign of improved ties with President Bashar Assad following years of devastating civil war. When asked what prompted the about-face on Palestine’s participation, staffers said it was decided that a Palestinian absence at the massive world’s fair would be worse. However, the Palestine pavilion has not officially opened to the public, as employees described a litany of headaches trying to get approval from Israeli authorities to get certain goods out of the West Bank. The exhibit creates a full sensory experience, inviting visitors to touch handmade ceramic jugs, watch vendors slicing knafeh, a syrupy cheese-filled pastry, and smell oranges from Palestinian farms. (Jon Gambrell/AP)Īfter the UAE announced it would normalize relations with Israel last year, infuriating the Palestinians and upending a long-standing Arab consensus, the Palestinian Authority declared it would boycott Dubai’s Expo.Īnd yet just a two-minute stroll from Israel’s mirrored arch, Palestine’s pavilion stands tall, its vast exterior painted with Arabic calligraphy reading: “Yesterday it was called Palestine. Palestine’s pavilion is seen at Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 2, 2021.
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