Aryeh Deri, chairman of the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, arrived on Tuesday in the United Arab Emirates on an official visit as a guest of the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed.
Deri was invited to the UAE more than a year ago but delayed the trip because of Israel’s war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Ynet reported.
The UAE invited Deri to approach more moderate elements in the Israeli government for talks regarding the day after the war, per the report.
The UAE has been in discussions with Israel and the United States about participating in a provisional administration of post-war Gaza, Reuters reported on Jan. 7.
The proposed plan involves the UAE, United States and other nations temporarily overseeing Gaza’s governance, security and reconstruction after an Israeli military withdrawal until a reformed Palestinian Authority can take over.
As a close U.S. partner and signatory to the 2021 Abraham Accords, Abu Dhabi maintains diplomatic ties with Jerusalem, which officials and diplomats suggest could give the Gulf state some influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A UAE official emphasized the importance of significant reforms to the Palestinian Authority as a prerequisite for any plan.
“The UAE will not participate in any plan that fails to include significant reform of the Palestinian Authority, its empowerment and the establishment of a credible roadmap toward a Palestinian state,” the official told Reuters. “These elements, which are currently lacking, are essential for the success of any post-Gaza plan,” they added.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed discussions with multiple partners, including the UAE, about governance, security and reconstruction in Gaza.
“These have been deliberative discussions that are ongoing as we work to determine the best path forward,” the spokesperson said, declining to comment on “private diplomatic conversations.”
