UAE alarmed by Israel-Palestine violence

By Our Correspondent

UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has expressed the UAE’s grave concern over the escalating spiral of violence in Israel and Palestine. He offered condolences to all victims of the recent fighting, WAM reported.

In a statement issued on May 14, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed said: “The UAE is alarmed by the escalating spiral of violence in Israel and Palestine. We express our condolences to all victims of the recent fighting, and join others in calling for an immediate cessation of violence and hostilities. The UAE calls on all parties to take immediate steps to commit to a ceasefire, initiate a political dialogue, and exercise maximum restraint.”

“The events of the past week have been a sombre reminder of the urgent need for peaceful dialogue and reconciliation. We reflect on the promise that the Abraham Accords hold for current and future generations, to live with their neighbours in peace, dignity and prosperity,” he added. “It is the true mark of leadership in this moment of crisis to refrain from provocations and reprisals, and to instead work towards a de-escalation of tensions.We stand ready to support all efforts to this end,” he concluded.

The UAE had signed the Abraham Accords with Israel last September in Washington signalling a new era in relations. In a written statement submitted in April to the UN Security Council for open debate on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, the UAE recalled how the signing of the peace agreement between the UAE and Israel in 2020 had halted the annexation of Palestinian territory. It had also noted that the agreement would enable it to play a greater positive role in fostering peace and building a more stable and secure future for people in the region for generations to come.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has denounced Israeli plans to evict Palestinian families from their homes in Jerusalem that has triggered the present conflict in the city.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke to the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Riyad Al-Maliki on the phone on May 14 and affirmed the Kingdom’s condemnation of illegal measures of Israeli authorities. He pointed out the need to immediately stop the actions that violate all international norms and conventions.

Jordan’s foreign minister also discussed with Prince Faisal the targeted efforts to “stop the Israeli aggression on Gaza and the attacks in Jerusalem and the rest of the Palestinian territories,” as a means of ending the current escalation.

Ayman Safadi spoke to his Omani and Egyptian counterparts regarding the escalation in the “occupied Palestinian Territories.”