The Israeli government said it has created a Twitter account to promote dialogue with the Gulf Corporation Council, The National reported Thursday.

Due to the Arab-Israeli conflict, the GCC states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Twitter account, called “Israel in the GCC,” is described as a “virtual embassy” for the Council members, and is run by Yoram Morad, the Foreign Ministry’s director of digital diplomacy.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said the account will encourage new ways to “benefit both sides in terms of cooperation and exchanges,” The National reported.

“Of course we recognize the political circumstances prevailing in this part of the region and other parts of it, and that will not be an easy task to resolve, but you have to start somewhere and show your goodwill,” Palmor said.

(Al Arabiya – www.alarabiya.net)