The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed serious concerns to Israel regarding potential annexation of the occupied West Bank, labeling it a “red line” that could jeopardize the Abraham Accords, which established normalized relations between the two nations. Lana Nusseibeh, a senior Emirati official, indicated that such a move might effectively terminate the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Palestinian Authority welcomed the UAE’s warning.
The Israeli government has yet to respond formally, but Nusseibeh’s remarks coincided with a proposal from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to annex around 80% of the West Bank. The area is home to approximately 3.3 million Palestinians and has seen the establishment of around 160 Israeli settlements since the 1967 Middle East war, with about 700,000 Jews currently residing there. International law considers these settlements illegal.
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020, led to the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco formalizing diplomatic ties with Israel, with the UAE insisting on halting Israeli annexation plans as a condition for agreement. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he would suspend these plans, they remain under consideration.
Within his right-wing coalition, several ministers have long supported the annexation agenda. As other countries signal intentions to recognize Palestine, reports suggest internal discussions in Israel about advancing annexation. Netanyahu criticized the notion of recognizing Palestinian statehood following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, asserting it would reward terrorism.
Smotrich, presenting a map for the proposed annexation, emphasized a commitment to Israeli sovereignty while allowing Palestinians to continue governance through the Palestinian Authority. The proposal was met with backlash, with the Palestinian Authority characterizing it as a direct threat to aspirations for statehood. Additionally, international human rights organizations have raised concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank, a characterization the Israeli government disputes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2rgjk87y2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss