UAE opts out of Netanyahu election campaign

But the UAE was largely – and perhaps unconsciously – dismissed in response to Netanyahu’s misleading reports about billions in Emirati trade investments and promises of a historic meeting with the powerful prince of Abu Dhabi, the de facto ruler of the UAE.

One Emirati official said the alliance will not engage in Israel’s election election, “now or never.”

The controversial signals from the countries, which made a normal relationship in a progressive agreement with the U.S. bankruptcy last fall, have postponed a firestorm, drawing to a close the political differences between the sides and weakening Netanyahu talking points about Gulf sheikhdom friendly friendship.

“The honeymoon came to an abrupt end,” Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a renowned Emirati political scientist, tweeted on Thursday.

Locked in a tight re-election battle, Netanyahu has once again tried to send an electronic trip to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, to celebrate his diplomatic achievement.

The tour promised very little material outside of a valuable photo-op for Netanyahu, who has tried to portray him as an essential statesman who is unique in turning Israel’s enemies into friends and leading his nation through times turbulent.

After coronavirus restrictions damaged his plans several times, Netanyahu attempted a quick trip last Thursday, to put him off at the last second.

In a state of disgrace, he said that Jordan refused to allow him to pass through his airfield after a dispute with Israeli security guards that prevented a private visit to Jerusalem by the crown prince of Jordan.

Emirati officials were largely silent, a response that seemed to hide a subconscious of pushing behind the scenes.

The rare rarity was Anwar Gargash, Emirati’s chief adviser who, until last month, was minister of state for foreign affairs.

“The UAE will not be part of any internal election in Israel, now or ever,” Gargash wrote on Twitter.

“From a UAE perspective, the purpose of the Abrahamic Accords is to provide a strong strategic foundation to promote peace and prosperity with the State of Israel and the region in general,” he wrote, referring to last year’s agreements that saw four countries in Arab countries, joining Israel.

Struggling with an ongoing corruption test and a popular rundown of how the pandemic fell, Netanyahu has tried to draw attention to the historical conspiracies called Abraham Accords.

In his speeches and interviews this week, Netanyahu promised to reschedule Abu Dhabi’s tour.

UAE state news agency WAM last week confirmed that Abu Dhabi crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has spoken to Netanyahu about setting up a $ 10 billion fund to invest in “strategic sectors” Israel, going from energy and space to healthcare and agriculture.

But days later, the ensuing Netanyahu media blitz, Sultan al-Jaber, Emirati ‘s Minister for Business and Advanced Technology, seemed to be monitoring a move too quickly.

According to a UAE-affiliated newspaper The National, al-Jaber stressed that the UAE’s investment plans are “in the early days” and sought to eliminate any associations with Netanyahu and the re- his choice.

“We are at a very early stage in the study of laws and policies in Israel,” he said. “The $ 10 billion is commercially directed and not politically linked.”

He said, unequivocally, that “the UAE has a long and rich history in making the right investments in the right places, based on the commercial assessment of that market.”

When Netanyahu tried to start a high-profile visit, there were plans for a quieter diplomatic trip from Israel. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, a member of the rival party Blue & White, had planned to fly to the UAE earlier in the week to establish a new Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi.

But Netanyahu interrupted the tour at the last minute, an Israeli official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as he had no authority to discuss the matter with the media.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu lost his political rival of the trip because he wanted to be the first Israeli leader raised at a ceremony in the UAE.

Ynet’s Ben-Dror Yemini said anonymous Emirati officials told him they were horrified by the decision to postpone Ashkenazi’s visit.

“Netanyahu’s action is a negative sign,” Yemini wrote. “He may [the Emiratis] to look at Israel a little less positively. “

The Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to several requests for comment from the Associated Press. Netanyahu’s office declined to comment when asked about Ashkenazi’s canceled trip.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu confirmed to a local radio station that he would not be flying to Abu Dhabi before next week’s election after all.