The President of the Emirates is going to Washington amid concerns
Last Updated on September 21, 2024 9:17 am
UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is going to Washington to meet US President Joe Biden. Biden will welcome him to the White House on Monday.
During the meeting, the two leaders will discuss various important issues including the Gaza conflict, cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), Sudan crisis and other regional and global issues.
Middle East media Al-Monitor reported this on Friday.
The news of the Emirati president’s visit came amidst the Emirati’s concern over the ongoing war in Gaza. This is Sheikh Mohammed’s first visit to Washington since becoming the president of the emirate in 2022.
Analysts say the news of his visit comes at a time when the UAE is beginning to see growing frustration with Israel’s response to the Gaza crisis. The conflict in Gaza shows no sign of abating and the death toll continues to rise.
Abu Dhabi normalized relations with Israel in 2020 after signing the Abraham Treaty. However, the country’s relationship with the current Israeli government has become bitter due to the Gaza war. The Gaza war is now marking a year since previous efforts to end the conflict failed.
In such a context, recently UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan demanded the establishment of a Palestinian state on social media X.
Retired political science professor Abdul Khaleq Abdullah told Al-Monitor that the foreign minister’s post has been viewed 18 million times. His poignant statement was intended to reach a wider audience. And that has more impact than a formal statement.
He added, “I think it’s an expression of frustration on both sides in Israel and America.” They are talking a lot, but not doing.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also echoed the same words in a session of the country’s Shura Council.
He said, Saudi Arabia will not stop its tireless efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and we confirm that if this is not the case, Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
Israel and Saudi Arabia were working on an agreement to normalize relations between the two countries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they were “on the brink” of a deal just before the October 7 attack by Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza.