A Unique Relationship In The Arab World |
Israel’s relationship with the United Arab Emirates is like no other in the Arab world.
Israel has forged peace treaties and normalization accords with several Arab states since it signed a peace treaty with Egypt in 1979. But the bilateral ties Israel has formed with the UAE remain unique, as a recent news story indicated.
Last month, Axios reported that Israel sent an Iron Dome air defence system, along with soldiers to operate it, to the UAE during the war in Iran. This was the first time Israel had ever dispatched the Iron Dome to an Arab state.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, confirmed the Axios report and conveyed his appreciation to the UAE.
Israel’s dispatch of the Iron Dome to the UAE occurred shortly after the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28. By way of response, the Iranian regime fired a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel and pro-American Arab Gulf states ranging from Saudi Arabia and Qatar to Kuwait and Oman.
The UAE was struck by more than 2,000 Iranian drones and some 550 ballistic missiles and bore the brunt of Iran’s onslaught. Oil and gas fields were hit, as were hotels and airports, causing billions of dollars worth of damage. Ten civilians were killed.
Prior to the war, the UAE had been trying to improve its relations with Iran.
On May 13, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that he had secretly visited the UAE – which established official relations with Israel in 2020 under the U.S.-brokered Abraham accords – and had met its leader, President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
They reportedly conferred in the oasis........