Peloni: Amid the threats from the UAE, Netanyahu has removed discussion of annexation from the topics of today’s security cabinet meeting. As explained by Khaled Hassan (highly recommended analysis), there is good reason to accept that the Emeratis are serious in their threats to quit the Abraham Accords despite the costs to it economy and security. Beyond just the Emeratis, annexation would further significantly delay if not end the Saudi normalization, and would further strain the peace with Egypt. So the question becomes is annexation worthy of realigning the region against Israel over this single move? I would argue that if this were merely related to the land, or to religion, it would be wise to be cautious here. Yet, October 7 demonstrated the ease with which a small force might spread chaos and mayhem, slaughter and barbarism, into the very homes of the Israeli people. Annexation is related to Israel’s security, and its very survival as the nation state of the Jews. This final nail upon the shroud of the Two State Solution must finally be hammered home, and would be wise to be done sooner rather than later. In fact, much of the world, many so called partners and allies, including the feckless Emeratis, are about to recognize a second Arab Palestinian state, which has brought this issue to a head. Comments and criticisms on this topic would be welcome.
Finance Minister Smotrich proposes to annex 82% of Judea and Samaria
Officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have warned that Israeli annexation of any West Bank territories would “irreparably damage” Israel’s efforts to achieve “regional integration.”
“These plans, if carried out, will do substantial damage to the UAE-Israel relationship,” an anonymous UAE official told Axios.
“And they will irreparably damage whatever remains of the vision of regional integration. In many ways, the choice before Israel right now is annexation or integration.”
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, publicly commented on the situation.
“We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans,” Nusseibeh said.
“Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the region’s trajectory,” she continued. “Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices.”
The comments from UAE officials come as the Israeli government is reportedly considering annexing parts of the West Bank where many Israeli settlers live.
This decision, which will be considered as a response to an increasing number of nations that have said they plan to recognize a Palestinian state.
Ynet reported that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened the meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, alongside military officials who were asked to present security assessments.”
Smotrich, who will be present at the meeting on Thursday, proposes that Israel should annex 82% of the territory.
“It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and remove once and for all the idea of dividing our small land and establishing a terrorist state in its heart,” he said during a presentation of his annexation proposal on Wednesday.
The proposal calls for “maximum territory and minimum Arab population.”
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has vocally supported Israel’s right to the disputed land.
“Judea and Samaria are part of Israel,” he told Netanyahu last month. “We are working to eliminate the use of the term ‘West Bank’ in the administration, in Congress, and in the federal government.”
The impression left by this statement is that the UAE couldn’t care less about the Abraham Accords. Indeed, the only thing they seem to care about is a Palestinian state right next to West Jerusalem as it was before the 6-day war where the Jordanian armed forces could fire into West Jerusalem whenever it suited them.
This is definitely not a situation we want to return to.
If we have a Palestinian state right next door, as a state, they can invite whomever they want to support their effort to relieve the Arab world of the existence of the Jewish state. This would and could include the Iranians, the Houthis, the Pakistanis the Iraqis and so on – all those who never had a common border with Israel and never learned their lesson the hard way. Most of them already got a few lessons but not enough, it seems. The UAE, as the protector and supporter of Hamas, Hezbollah and the PIJ and all the others also needs to be brought back down to ground level.
Don’t any of those “friendly” countries on the Persian Gulf know how easy it is to destroy their petroleum income? It must have taken DJT a lot of effort to hold the Israelis back just a few weeks ago. Both USA and Israel were very careful NOT to allow radioactive fallout to occur in Iran, and then they are told that no damage was done.
If I was Israel’s PM, despite the ‘glowing’ relationship between UAE and Israel, I would make it crystal clear that Judea and Samaria will never be given away. And certainly not to any of our enemies. Anyone who thinks otherwise is our enemy. So long UAE!
Treating our Jewish homeland as a bargaining chip with the UAE is a monstrous denial of the Torah and Tanach.
When I witnessed the signing on the White House lawn, the hurrahs for the Abraham Accords, and the non-negotiable statement by the UAE gov. that the basis and foundation of the agreement was the creation of the Palestinian State, the plane with Israeli business people , led by Jared Kushner – to make deals and deals and deals – was already in the air. Selling out our Land for less than a bowl of lentils.
@Renanah
Very well put.
I have no problem with a Palestinian State
Saudi Arabia has plenty of land, goats and camels.
Yesha/Ayosh (Gaza, Shomron and Yehuda) is roughly 2,400 square miles. Saudi Arabia is 830,000 square miles. Give them 2,400 square miles, some water and money and see if they can make a go of it. Maybe an oil drilling rig or two.
Contributions from Communist China, Western/Muslim Europe, Iran, Russia and The 3rd World most welcome. They are the ones complaining the most about Israel.
Problem solved.