Israeli Foreign Minister met with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, marking the first high-level public visit since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The two diplomats discussed “regional developments and bilateral relations between the countries,” Jerusalem announced.
According to Israel, Sheikh Abdullah was the one to invite Sa’ar.
Earlier on Tuesday, Reuters reported that the United Arab Emirates has been holding talks with Israel and the United States about participating in a provisional administration for Gaza after the war ends.
The proposals involve the UAE and the United States, as well as other countries that are temporarily overseeing Gaza’s governance, security and reconstruction after Israel withdraws until a reformed Palestinian Authority can take control.
A UAE official emphasized to Reuters the importance of significant reforms to the Palestinian Authority as a prerequisite for any plan.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson confirmed talks with multiple partners, including the UAE, about post-war Gaza. “These have been deliberative discussions that are ongoing as we work to determine the best path forward,” the spokesperson said, declining further comment.
On Sept. 15, 2020, Sheikh Abdullah, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed a peace deal known as the Abraham Accords at a ceremony on the White House lawn, hosted by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following the Oct. 7 massacre and ensuing military operation against Hamas, the Israeli-Emirati relationship seems to be the strongest of the Abraham Accords ties. Diplomats from the Jewish state remained in the UAE, allowing the continuation of dialogue even as Abu Dhabi opposed Israel in international forums, experts told JNS in May.
Israel vehemently rejects Hamas and P.A. rule, with Netanyahu favoring a transfer of control to bodies not considered hostile to the Jewish state.
Netanyahu said during an interview that aired on May 9 that Israel is seeking to establish a rule “by Gazans who are not committed to our destruction, possibly with the aid of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries that I think want to see stability and peace.”
An opinion poll published late last month showed that nearly two-thirds of Palestinians in Gaza, Judea and Samaria prefer for Hamas terrorists to be part of, or even lead, a Palestinian governing body that would control the Strip after the current war with Israel concludes.
