Axios
Follow
UAE warns White House that Israeli annexations could unravel Abraham Accords
The United Arab Emirates has warned the Trump administration that Israeli annexation of the West Bank would jeopardize the Abraham Accords. This message comes as Israel considers annexing parts of the West Bank following international recognition of a Palestinian state. The UAE's stance is crucial as they were the first Arab nation to condemn the October 7th attacks and have maintained relations with Israel. They view annexation as a red line that would significantly damage their bilateral relationship and regional integration efforts. Emirati officials believe the choice for Israel is between annexation and integration. While discussions about annexation are ongoing in Israel, no final decisions have been made. President Trump previously blocked annexations, but his current position is unclear, with some US officials reportedly signaling no opposition. However, others within the administration, like Steve Witkoff, believe annexation would hinder US relations with Arab nations and a Saudi-Israeli peace deal. The UAE has privately and publicly urged the US to prevent annexation, emphasizing that it would violate the spirit of the Abraham Accords. They believe annexation would also be a death knell for the two-state solution and dismissed justifications for such a move.