The UAE was the first Arab country to condemn the Oct. 7 attacks, maintained relations with Israel during the Gaza war, and cooperated on a post-war plan. Emirati officials have declared annexation of parts of the West Bank a red line and warned that annexation would substantially and irreparably damage UAE–Israel relations and regional integration. Israeli leaders have discussed annexation internally but have not decided. U.S. positions appear mixed, with some officials allegedly signaling no opposition while others warn annexation would complicate U.S. coordination and jeopardize a Saudi–Israeli deal. The 2020 accords were conditioned on Israel ruling out annexation.
But the Emiratis have made clear in private and in public that they see annexation of parts of the West Bank as a "red line." "These plans, if carried out, will do substantial damage to the UAE-Israel relationship. And they will irreparably damage whatever remains of the vision of regional integration. In many ways, the choice before Israel right now is annexation or integration," a senior Emirati official told Axios.
Two Israeli officials claim Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled in private meetings that he doesn't oppose West Bank annexations and the Trump administration won't stand in the way. At least one senior official disagrees. White House envoy Steve Witkoff thinks Israeli annexations would complicate the U.S. ability to work with the Arab world on a post-war plan for Gaza, and undermine chances of a Saudi-Israeli peace deal, two sources with knowledge say.
Collection
[
|
...
]