UAE Warns Israel Over West Bank Annexation Plans

The United Arab Emirates has publicly warned Israel that any attempt to annex significant portions of the occupied West Bank would constitute a 'red line' for Abu Dhabi, potentially jeopardizing the landmark Abraham Accords that normalized relations between the two nations in 2020. The warning follows recent statements by Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who proposed annexing approximately 82 percent of the West Bank, leaving only isolated enclaves for Palestinian autonomy.

Regional Integration at Risk

Senior Emirati officials, including diplomats Lana Nusseibeh and Anwar Gargash, have emphasized that such unilateral Israeli actions would 'severely undermine' the vision and spirit of the Abraham Accords, which were brokered by the United States as a cornerstone of regional integration. The UAE was the driving force behind these accords, which also led to Israel establishing diplomatic ties with Bahrain and Morocco. Officials warned that annexation would not only end prospects for a two-state solution but also unravel the fragile consensus around peaceful coexistence in the region.

Diplomatic Fallout and International Response

The Emirati warning prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove the annexation proposal from the government's immediate agenda, reportedly after significant pressure from Abu Dhabi. Israeli officials acknowledged that the UAE had pressed Netanyahu to abandon the plan, warning that annexation would seriously undermine the normalization agreement. The move comes as international attention turns toward the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, where several countries are expected to recognize Palestinian statehood.

The United States, a key broker of the Abraham Accords, has not issued an immediate public response to the latest developments. However, sources indicate that the Trump administration, which played a pivotal role in the original agreement, has been warned by the UAE that further annexation would damage its foreign policy legacy and hopes for broader regional integration. While some Israeli officials claim that previous commitments to suspend annexation have expired, Emirati officials insist that moving forward would violate the spirit of the accords.

Uncertainty and Escalating Tensions

Despite the UAE's warnings, it remains unclear what specific actions Abu Dhabi would take should Israel proceed with annexation. The Emirati government has not explicitly threatened to revoke the peace agreement but has not ruled out the possibility. The situation is further complicated by ongoing violence in Gaza and mounting international criticism of Israel's conduct in the territory. Regional leaders, including those in Egypt and Jordan, have also expressed concern about recent rhetoric from Israeli officials regarding territorial claims beyond the West Bank, further straining diplomatic relations.

The Palestinian Authority has welcomed the UAE's stance, describing the Israeli annexation proposal as a 'direct threat' to the prospects for Palestinian statehood. Much of the international community, including the European Union and United Nations, continues to view annexation as a move that would effectively end any hope for a negotiated two-state solution and exacerbate instability across the Middle East.