Move by South Asian archipelagic state, a destination for Israeli tourists which has had intermittent Israel ties, follows talks between Maldives and Iran foreign ministers at UN

After no new accords signed in 2021, Israel working toward agreements with Indian Ocean Muslim-majority nations, though no announcement is said to be imminent

The Elimelechs can't leave tiny nation due to pandemic, so the government moved them to a luxury facility with full board; 'My friends are jealous,' says father