The United Arab Emirates has issued its strongest warning yet to Israel, declaring that any attempt to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would cross a “red line” and jeopardize the historic Abraham Accords.
The warning came after Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans to move ahead with construction in the sensitive E1 corridor, a strategic stretch of land near Jerusalem. Critics argue that development in this area would effectively sever the West Bank, cutting off East Jerusalem and making the establishment of a viable Palestinian state almost impossible.
Speaking on behalf of the UAE government, Lana Nusseibeh, Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, said annexation would “severely undermine the vision and spirit” of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. She emphasized that any unilateral move to claim Palestinian land would dismantle progress made toward peace and regional integration.
Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati diplomat, echoed this position on social media, describing annexation as a “red line” that would not be tolerated. While the UAE has not outlined specific punitive measures, its sharp tone reflects growing frustration in Abu Dhabi over Israeli policies that directly contradict the principles of normalization.
The timing of the UAE’s warning is significant. U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed efforts to expand normalization agreements across the Middle East, but annexation threatens to derail those ambitions. Diplomats suggest that if Israel proceeds, not only would the Abraham Accords face collapse, but wider regional stability could also be thrown into question.
The dispute unfolds against a backdrop of escalating violence in Gaza, where Israeli airstrikes this week killed at least 31 people, including children. The humanitarian crisis there has already drawn international condemnation, adding further pressure on Israel’s government to reconsider its hardline policies.
At the heart of the issue is the E1 settlement plan. By connecting Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem, Israel would extend a belt of control that fragments Palestinian territory and undermines prospects for a contiguous state. Human rights groups warn that this move would amount to de facto annexation, leaving Palestinians with little chance of achieving sovereignty.
As Israel’s cabinet debates the next steps, the UAE’s warning underscores that annexation carries not only moral and humanitarian consequences but also serious diplomatic costs. What was once hailed as a breakthrough for Middle East peace now hangs in the balance, with the future of the Abraham Accords and the viability of a two-state solution at stake.
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