Fatah slams UAE, says Abu Dhabi 'abandoned' national duties

By Ali Abo Rezeg and Zehra Nur Duz

ANKARA (AA) – Speaking as one, Palestinian groups Thursday slammed the new agreement between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel to normalize relations.


The Fatah movement said that with the deal, Abu Dhabi is flouting its national, religious, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian cause.

The normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE is a “bad bet” showing “absolute dependence on the enemies of the Arab people," Abbas Zaki, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, told Anadolu Agency Thursday.

The deal amounts to "a comprehensive abandonment of the decisions of Arab summits and of the national, religious, and humanitarian duties towards the Palestinian cause," he added.

"I would not wish for an Arab to fall into this swamp," he said of the agreement.

Israel and the UAE have agreed to normalize relations, US President Donald Trump said Thursday, in a move forestalling Israel's controversial plans to annex large swathes of the occupied West Bank.

A joint statement from the US, UAE, and Israel said the "breakthrough" will promote "peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders,” referring to Trump, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, and Netanyahu.

Under the deal, Israel will "suspend" plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank "and focus its efforts now on expanding ties with other countries in the Arab and Muslim world," according to the statement.

"The United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates are confident that additional diplomatic breakthroughs with other nations are possible, and will work together to achieve this goal," it added.

The development marks only the third time an Arab nation has opened full diplomatic ties with Israel, and the Emirates is now the first Gulf Arab state to do so. The other Arab nations with diplomatic ties with Israel are Egypt and Jordan.