uae in early talks with israel and us on gaza administration
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been holding early talks with Israel and the United States on a provisional administration for the post-war Gaza Strip, a temporary solution until a reformed Palestinian Autonomy Authority is in a position to take the lead.
Behind the scenes, the talks, first reported by Reuters, included the possibility of the UAE and the US, along with other nations, overseeing administration, security, and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the Israeli military’s withdrawal.
The UAE, a close security partner of the US, maintains diplomatic relations with Israel, unlike most Arab governments. Diplomats and officials said this gives the Gulf state a certain leverage against the Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Over a year of war, Israel has yet to sketch out its own vision for the Gaza Strip, and the international community has struggled to formulate a sustainable plan.
While the UAE has criticized the Israeli military’s conduct and Netanyahu’s government, Israel reportedly still intends to involve the oil-rich nation in the post-war Gaza conflict, according to two former Israeli officials who wished to remain anonymous.
Like Israel, the UAE is also against the Hamas. Abu Dhabi views these and other Islamist groups as “destabilizing forces.” Emirati officials have also expressed concern publicly about the war’s impact on the stability of the Middle East and the efforts towards a stronger regional integration and economic development.
When asked if the Hamas is aware of the UAE’s proposed suggestions, Basem Naim, a leading representative of the Hamas, told Reuters that the Gaza Strip after the war must be “clearly Palestinian” and without “foreign interventions.”
The UAE has already stated it would only send troops for a multinational post-war mission on the invitation of the Palestinian Autonomy Authority and with US participation.
The UAE has also called for a new prime minister of the Palestinian Autonomy Authority. Emirati officials have named the former prime minister Salam Fayyad, a former World Bank official educated in the US, as a credible politician to lead a reformed Palestinian Autonomy Authority.