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Many Palestinians feel betrayed by the UAE: the Gulf state wants to get closer to Israel, a break with a fully Arab consensus. What options do you have?
By Benjamin Hammer, ARD Studio Tel Aviv
Black, White, Green and Red – Pan-Arab colors adorn both the Palestinian flag and the flag of the United Arab Emirates. Arab brothers and sisters, allies in the conflict with Israel, that is the symbolic message.
Not much remains of this ideal assumption these days. Israel and the United Arab Emirates intend to sign an agreement to normalize their relations in the White House starting next week. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was furious in August. He accused the Emirates of trying to fool the world and pretending to have accomplished something great for the Palestinians because Israel does not want to implement the announced annexation of the West Bank just yet. “They are ignoring the rights of the Palestinians,” Abbas said. “And we see it as a devious attack on the Palestinian cause.”
Fewer and fewer partners
Abbas is 84 years old and has been campaigning for a Palestinian state of his own for decades. He was rarely as isolated as in recent weeks. He has not spoken to the US government since Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in 2017. It has not been forgotten that Abbas called the US ambassador to Israel, who is campaigning for Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. , “son of a god”.
Abbas also stopped working with Israel, not least because Israel did not abandon its plans to annex parts of the West Bank for a long time.
These are at least off the table for now. However, from the Palestinian perspective, something unheard of has happened: a break with a pan-Arab consensus. Because 18 years ago, the Arab League made an offer to Israel: normalization is possible, but only if Israel ends the occupation of the West Bank. And only if there is a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Understanding of “disappointment”
But now the UAE wants to establish diplomatic relations with Israel without meeting these conditions. The Minister of State in the Foreign Ministry, Niels Annen, who visited Israel and the Palestinian territories a few days ago, can understand why there is “a certain disappointment” on the part of the Palestinians.
There are many indications that this agreement was not coordinated with the Palestinian leadership. Therefore, the message from the federal government is: “Germany welcomes this normalization,” Annen said. But Germany continues to clearly defend the rights of the Palestinian people and a two-state solution.
“Make pain an opportunity”
Despite all the frustration, the Federal Government wants to persuade Palestinian leaders to be more prepared for dialogue: to put their own more specific proposals on the table and to negotiate again with Israel.
The Palestinian philosopher and activist Sari Nusseibeh also asks for it. She’s trying to get something positive out of the upcoming Israel-Emirates deal. Things are getting worse and that is painful for the Palestinians. But, he says, “Maybe we can turn pain into opportunity. Our leaders should look into this. Why shouldn’t we ask the Emirates to stand up for the things the Palestinians have always asked for?”
Abbas takes a different tone?
Nusseibeh also hopes his leadership will no longer isolate itself. According to media reports, this wish could partially come true. A first clue could come from a virtual meeting of the Arab League, the forum from which the Palestinians expect solidarity in the context of rapprochement between Israel and the Emirates. The Emirates also belong to the organization.
Still, Abbas, who is known for his outbursts, apparently now relies on restraint. He instructed his diplomats to refrain from verbally attacking all other Arab states.
