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UAE considers downgrading ties with Israel over West Bank annexation
The United Arab Emirates is reportedly considering downgrading ties with Israel and possibly withdrawing its ambassador if Israel annexes the occupied West Bank.
The UAE is one of a small group of Arab League countries, including Morocco and Bahrain, that have ties with Israel.
Israel has been threatening to annex the occupied West Bank over the last few months in response to calls by European governments to recognise a Palestinian state.
Reuters news agency, citing three unnamed sources, reported Abu Dhabi won’t fully cut ties but may recall its ambassador.
GCC defence ministers vow to counter ‘egregious’ Israeli attack on Qatar
Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, says Israel’s attack on Doha was an “egregious violation of Qatar’s sovereignty”.
At the Doha meeting, the defence chiefs from the six-member Gulf bloc agreed “to promote and strengthen GCC collaboration to counter any threats”.
The Israeli strikes “constitute an attack against Qatar and all GCC countries. According to the joint defence agreement, we’ll increase intelligence sharing, training, and joint military exercises”, AlBudaiwi said at a news conference.
Gulf nations to coordinate ‘at all military and intelligence levels’
GCC defence ministers have issued a joint statement denouncing “the Israeli aggression and the blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar, threatening its security and stability”.
“The Joint Defense Council condemned in the strongest terms this dangerous military attack, stressing that this aggressive act represents a dangerous and unacceptable escalation and a grave violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations,” it said.
The statement added the GCC militaries will coordinate “at all military and intelligence levels to further enhance Gulf defence integration and work to intensify and link defence systems to confront all risks and challenges”.
