DUBAI: The UAE has warned Israel that any move to annex parts of the occupied Palestinian territories would cross a “red line” and destabilize the region, underscoring the UAE’s support for Palestinian statehood despite its normalization of ties with Israel in recent years.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported that Khalifa Shaheen Al-Marar, a UAE minister of state, confirmed the Emirati stance on Thursday following the conclusion of the 164th session of the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers.
The rebuke had been circulating in the press after statements made by Emirati special envoy Lana Nusseibeh in a Times of Israel interview earlier in the week.
“Israel’s annexation of the West Bank or any part of the occupied Palestinian territories represents a red line, and taking such a step would undermine regional security,” Al-Marar said.
He said the Emirates were committed to protecting Palestinian rights and pursuing a two-state solution as the only viable path to a comprehensive peace.
