The annexation of Israel in parts of the occupied West Bank “turns a red line” “ends the pursuit of regional integration,” the United Arab Emirates, the main signatories of the landmark agreement that normalizes relations with the three Arab countries, warned.
“The annexation of the West Bank of Jordan River will form the red line of the UAE,” Rana Nusseybe, political affairs aide for the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement. “It will seriously undermine the vision and spirit of the (Abraham) Agreement, ending the pursuit of regional integration and changing the widely shared consensus about what the trajectory of this conflict is.
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates became the first Arab nation in 26 years, normalizing relations with Israel under the Abraham series, and soon followed by Bahrain and Morocco. Abu Dhabi has since deepened trade, defense and tourism ties with Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu making it a priority to expand the agreement to other Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia.
The United Arab Emirates have previously criticised Israel for its actions in the Gaza War and its West Bank, but the latest warning, marking the fifth anniversary of the Abraham Agreement, marks the strongest responsibilities from Abu Dhabi. It also raises new questions about the durability of the regularization agreement, one of the achievements of US President Donald Trump’s signature foreign policy during his first term.
The United Arab Emirates maintained ties with Israel during the course of the Gaza War and used those ties to adjust air aid to war-rising territory, and saw the agreement beneficial to the Palestinians as well.
“From the beginning, we saw it as a way to enable ongoing support for the Palestinians and their legitimate aspirations for an independent state. That was our position in 2020 and remained where we are today.”
In 2020, the United Arab Emirates halted its plans to annex parts of the West Bank and framed the results as a result of Abu Dhabi’s efforts to the Palestinian state.
Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in the war of 1967 and soon began establishing Jewish settlements. Around three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, and Palestinians want territory along with occupied East Jerusalem and Gaza as part of their future state and part of a position that has received the support of most international communities.
“The proposal to some in the West Bank, reportedly being discussed by the Israeli government, is part of an effort to “fill in the ideas of the Palestinian state,” in the words of the Israeli minister,” she added.
Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Cabinet Minister on Thursday and will discuss Israel’s retaliation this month on the expected wave of Western countries’ recognition of the Palestinian state, two Israeli officials told CNN on Tuesday.
France, Australia, Canada, Portugal, the UK and other western countries announced plans to recognize Palestinian states at the UN General Assembly this month, joining more than 140 countries that have already done so.
An Israeli official who spoke with CNN said Netanyahu is considering annexation options of various scales and levels, ranging from limited acquisitions of several Jewish settlements to a broader approach to seeking annexation of Area C, which accounts for 60% of the territory.
One of the main options considered is the annexation of the Jordan Valley, located at the eastern end along the Jordan River. Officials said there is a broader general consensus in Israel to support such a proposal, adding that the need for Israel to use as a security perimeter would be easier to sell to the international community and, most importantly, Washington.
Netanyahu’s far-right political allies, Ministers of Sumotrich and Itamar Ben Gwil, as well as settlers’ leaders, are opposed to the idea of partial annexation, including certain strips or reconciliation blocs, and instead promote the greatest approach – applying Israeli sovereignty to all territories that are not inhabited by Palestinians. The move will allow Israel to surround Palestinian population centres, further undermining the viability of the adjacent Palestinian state.
“We are asking the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists of any kind are not allowed to determine the trajectory of the region. Peace must refuse to let courage, tenacity and violence define our choices,” Nusseybe said.
