Palestine recalls ambassador from UAE as it establishes ties with Israel

The Palestinian ambassador to the UAE is being recalled over UAE’s decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called the move “treason.”

According to the international news agency, Abbas urged the UAE to reverse Thursday’s decision. He has also urged other Arab nations not to follow its example “at the expense of Palestinian rights.”

Hamas also criticized the agreement, calling it a “stabbing in the back of our people.”

[EMBEDPOST SLUG= “Israel and UAE agree to normalize relations”]

On the other hand, Emirati defended the decision by highlighting it headed off Israeli annexation of a large portion of the West Bank. Emirati official Anwar Gargash said to media, “The UAE is using its gravitas and promise of a relationship to unscrew a time bomb that is threatening a two-state solution”.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that his “plans to apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria”, the West Bank, have not changed. He said that he is merely awaiting “full coordination with the US.”