The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has broken ranks with several Arab nations at the United Nations General Assembly, opting for a strategy of direct engagement over protest amidst mounting Palestinian casualties in the Gaza offensive. This calculated diplomatic move has sparked debate, with critics accusing Abu Dhabi of prioritizing strategic alliances over regional solidarity.
Direct Dialogue While Others Walked Out
- High-Level Meeting: UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed met privately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu behind closed doors in New York. According to the official readout, the purpose of the meeting was to “stress the urgent need to end the war in Gaza and protect civilian lives,” and to discuss regional de-escalation and humanitarian access.
- Refusal to Join Walkout: While several key Arab delegates, including those from Jordan, Qatar, and Algeria, staged a walkout during Netanyahu’s address to the General Assembly as a gesture of protest against the military offensive, reports indicate that UAE diplomats remained in the chamber.
This decision by the UAE signals a calculated departure from the collective Arab sentiment, which has been vocal in its condemnation of Israel’s actions as Palestinian casualties increase.
A Delicate Diplomatic Balancing Act
The UAE’s policy reflects an attempt to maintain a delicate balance shaped by the Abraham Accords, the 2020 agreement that normalized relations with Israel.
- Engagement, Not Isolation: The UAE’s strategy is one of direct engagement, operating on the belief that maintaining communication with all sides, even during a crisis, offers a more effective pathway to peace than severing ties.
- Two-State Solution: In an official post, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the nation’s consistent support for the two-state solution and the necessity of a permanent and sustainable ceasefire to end the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza.
Veteran Emirati diplomat and presidential advisor Dr. Anwar Gargash staunchly defended the strategy, calling the meeting between the Foreign Minister and the Israeli Prime Minister a “bold step to support international efforts to end the Gaza war” and bolster the path to peace. He also credited the UAE’s decisive position for previously helping to close the file on Israel’s annexation of Palestinian lands.
The move, however, continues to draw criticism across the Arab world, where many view it as out of step with the collective moral stance required in the face of the ongoing crisis.