UAE Warns Israel: West Bank Annexation Threatens Peace

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued a strong warning to Israel, stating that any attempt to annex Palestinian territories in the West Bank would cross a “red line” and could seriously damage the vision for peace and regional cooperation promoted by the Abraham Accords. This warning marks one of the strongest public statements from the UAE to Israel since the war in Gaza nearly two years ago.

Background of the Warning

The warning came after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold a cabinet meeting to approve extending Israel’s control over parts of the West Bank. The West Bank is a Palestinian territory that has been at the center of conflict between Israel and Palestine for decades.

Lana Nusseibeh, the assistant minister for political affairs at the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made the warning clear. She said that annexation in the West Bank would be a “red line” for the UAE. She added that taking control of Palestinian lands would severely undermine the spirit and goals of the Abraham Accords, agreements that normalized relations between Israel and some Arab countries, including the UAE, in 2020.

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What the UAE Said

Nusseibeh emphasized that annexing Palestinian territory could end efforts toward regional integration and disrupt the commonly shared goal of achieving a peaceful resolution between Israel and Palestine. She said the vision of the Abraham Accords, which promotes cooperation, prosperity, and security in the region, would be deeply damaged.

The UAE did not say exactly what actions it would take if Israel moved forward with annexation or whether this could lead to breaking diplomatic ties. Meanwhile, Israel’s government has not yet responded to the UAE’s warning.

Israel’s Political Moves

Israel’s parliament passed a resolution in July calling for the annexation of Jewish settlement areas in the West Bank. Prime Minister Netanyahu supported the resolution but has not provided clear details on when or if annexation will actually happen. The current discussion over annexation has drawn attention from international observers because it could dramatically affect regional peace efforts.

The Abraham Accords

The UAE and Israel signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, an agreement that marked a historic step toward normalization of relations between Arab nations and Israel. This agreement allowed Israelis to travel to the UAE for business, tourism, and technology exchange. It also gave the UAE political influence in Washington and access to advanced technology, especially in defense and security sectors.

One of the key conditions for the UAE joining the Abraham Accords was that Israel would not annex the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank and Gaza. Therefore, any move toward annexation would break a major condition of the agreement and could weaken regional cooperation.

UAE Pressure on the United States

Analysts note that the UAE’s warning also puts pressure on the United States. Firas Maksad, a geopolitical risk analyst, said that the UAE is signaling to the Trump administration that preventing annexation in the West Bank is crucial. He suggested that if the US does not act to restrain Israel, it could lose an important diplomatic achievement.

UAE-Saudi Talks on Palestine

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed traveled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Their discussions focused on the situation in Palestine and the broader region. The Saudi foreign ministry reported that the leaders agreed on the importance of establishing lasting peace based on the two-state solution — creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

The meeting showed a united front between the UAE and Saudi Arabia on the Palestinian issue. Photographs of the two leaders hugging warmly highlighted their agreement to remain aligned on this sensitive topic despite previous differences.

France and Saudi Arabia Push for Peace

French President Emmanuel Macron also announced plans to co-chair a conference with Saudi Arabia in New York on September 22 to discuss the viability of a two-state solution. This conference is scheduled just before the United Nations General Assembly. Macron said that the goal is to gather wide international support for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

However, tensions have risen as the Trump administration recently announced it would deny visas to Palestinian officials who wished to attend the event in New York. Macron described this move as “unacceptable” and urged the US to reverse the decision.

Strained Relations Between Israel and UAE

Israel’s relations with the UAE have been tested over the past two years. The war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s ongoing military actions, have caused strain. Israel’s plans for a ground offensive in Gaza City and Netanyahu’s support for the concept of “Greater Israel” — a vision of expanding Israeli control over Palestinian lands — have further complicated ties.

To manage these tensions, Netanyahu sent one of his top aides, Ron Dermer, to Abu Dhabi last month to try to ease the situation.

UAE’s Strong Message

The UAE made it clear that extremists, on any side, should not be allowed to dictate the region’s future. Nusseibeh stressed that peace requires courage, persistence, and the ability to resist letting violence shape decisions. The UAE wants regional cooperation and a peaceful path forward, with both Israel and Palestine coexisting in security and prosperity.

The UAE’s warning to Israel reflects the importance of maintaining the Abraham Accords and respecting the two-state solution. Annexation of the West Bank could have serious consequences for peace in the Middle East, potentially undoing years of diplomatic progress. With international leaders like Macron pushing for dialogue and the UAE and Saudi Arabia presenting a united stance, the pressure on Israel to avoid annexation is growing.

The coming weeks will be crucial, as decisions regarding the West Bank could either strengthen or severely undermine peace efforts in the region. Observers will be watching closely to see how Israel responds to the UAE’s red-line warning and whether the Abraham Accords can continue to serve as a model for regional integration and cooperation.