UAE Officials Warn Israel's Expansion Of West Bank Settlements Damages Relations Between The Two Countries

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates warned Israel of any annexation in the West Bank would be a red line for Abu Dhabi which would seriously undermine the spirit of the Abrahamic Agreement which normalizes relations between the two countries.

"From the start, we view this agreement as a way to enable our continued support for the Palestinian people and their legitimate aspirations for an independent country," Assistant Minister for Political Affairs and UAE Foreign Minister Envoy Lana Nusseibeh told Reuters on Wednesday, September 3.

"That is our position in 2020, and it remains our position until now," he continued.

The statement marked the UAE's most violent criticism of Israel's actions since the start of the Gaza war in 2023.

Abraham's agreement, signed during the first term of US President Donald Trump, allowed the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel after US mediation.

"We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans. Extremists, whatever their shape, should not be allowed to dictate the direction of regional development. Peace requires courage, persistence, and resistance to allow violence to make our choices," Nusseibeh said.