The UAE tried to ally with pro-Israel US lobbying groups in its spat with Saudi Arabia, one current and one former US official told Middle East Eye.
At least one group, the American Jewish Committee (AJC), came under pressure from the UAE to make a statement raising concerns about alleged antisemitism in Saudi Arabia, the current US official told MEE.
AJC is an ardent defender of Israel with deep ties in Washington. The CEO is former US Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch.
The UAE’s decision to utilise its close ties with pro-Israel US lobbying groups shows how Abu Dhabi is trying to capitalise on the 2021 Abraham Accords, under which it normalised ties with Israel.
AJC established a satellite office in Abu Dhabi in 2021 called The Sidney Lerner Center for Arab-Jewish Understanding. The office’s mandate is to promote “Muslim-Jewish dialogue” and “Combat antisemitism wherever it appears”, along with promoting the 2021 Abraham Accords.
