Azerbaijan to Become First Muslim Shi’ite Country to Open Embassy in Israel

An Azerbaijani flag is seen in the village of Zangilan, Azerbaijan, on Jan. 5, 2021. Tofik Babayev/AFP via Getty Images

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.