UAE Urges Netanyahu to Support Trump Gaza Plan While Warning Against West Bank Annexation
**UAE Stresses Importance of Two-State Solution for Continued Arab-Israel Relations**
ABU DHABI, Sept 29 (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to embrace President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace proposal, at their recent meeting, and abandon any plans for annexing the West Bank. A delegate with inside knowledge relayed this push to Reuters, highlighting the potential blockage of future Arab-Israel normalization, including critical relations with countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia, if annexation proceeds. This development emerges from the UAE’s pivotal role in the Abraham Accords, where it became a notable Arab nation to formalize ties with Israel.
UAE Calls for Serious Engagement on Trump’s Gaza Plan
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the UAE Foreign Minister, emphasized the significance of the Trump administration’s plan during a conversation with Netanyahu at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. He encouraged a robust commitment to advancing the peace process, underscoring the plan’s potential advantages for all involved parties. This dialogue reflects a broader strategy to support the U.S. initiative as a means to terminate the two-year-old Israel-Hamas conflict and secure the release of hostages held by Palestinian militants.
Arab States Influence U.S. Stance on West Bank Annexation
Key Arab and Muslim states, including Saudi Arabia, have persuaded President Trump of the untenability of annexation, resulting in his public disavowal of the idea. Saudi Arabia maintains that normalization under the Abraham Accords hinges on a sustainable two-state solution, ensuring a viable Palestinian state. The message to Netanyahu is clear: Israel must align with these expectations to benefit from enhanced regional ties. The revised U.S. framework suggests an evolving approach to Gaza.
Key Elements of the Proposed Peace Framework
The 21-point Trump framework offers a pathway to Palestinian statehood, a concept previously unaddressed by the administration, seeking a balance between Palestinian national aspirations and Israeli security demands. This includes:
- Hamas disarmament and Gaza’s demilitarization
- Development of a transitional Palestinian technocratic government
- Implementation of a stabilization force to establish a new Palestinian police force
- Gradual Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories
- An international body led by the U.S. to oversee redevelopment
This plan aims to cater to Palestinian demands while addressing Israel’s security concerns, presenting both collaborative opportunities and potential resistance from factions within Netanyahu’s government and Hamas.
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
As Israel’s military actions in Gaza continue, more than 66,000 Palestinian casualties have been reported, and a severe humanitarian crisis affects the 2.3 million residents. The conflict, which began following an October 2023 Hamas-led incursion into Israeli territory, claimed approximately 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in 251 hostages, with ongoing negotiations affecting the region’s stability.
Additional reporting was contributed by Trevor Hunnicutt and Simon Lewis in Washington, and Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem. This report by Samia Nakhoul, edited by William Maclean, adheres to the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
