UAE condemns Netanyahu statements on 'Greater Israel'

The UAE on Thursday condemned statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the “Greater Israel” vision.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the remarks constitute a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

The ministry underscored the UAE’s categorical rejection of any threat to the sovereignty of Arab states, and called for an end to incendiary statements and actions by extremists in the Israeli government.

Mr Netanyahu, in a recent television interview, said he felt "very much" attached to the idea of Greater Israel, and that he felt a sense of “historic and spiritual mission" for the country.

A "Greater Israel" would almost certainly include areas set aside for a future Palestinian state, and possibly parts of other countries such as Jordan and Egypt.

The Arab League strongly condemned Mr Netanyahu's comments.

"The statements of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding 'Greater Israel' represent an extremist and arrogant discourse that has long cost the region and its peoples dearly," Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, said in a post on X.

"What kind of provocation is this? And what benefit is expected from this inflammatory rhetoric? How long will extremism and extremists control the region’s future through a discourse of exclusion and marginalisation?"

Match info

Uefa Nations League Group B:

England v Spain, Saturday, 11.45pm (UAE)

While you're here

Con Coughlin: To survive, Nato must renew its sense of common purpose

Gavin Esler: Nato summit failed for making news more than it made deals

Simon Waldman: Nato continues to be Ankara’s best security guarantor

Key findings of Jenkins report

Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Kumulus Water

Started: 2021

Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid

Based: Tunisia

Sector: Water technology

Number of staff: 22

Investment raised: $4 million

How to help

Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200

Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face

The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.

The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.

Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.

"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.

Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.

The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.

Mina Al-Oraibi: Iraq is in a fight to show its people who is really in charge

Khaled Yacoub Oweis: Iraq PM goes from shy writer to the political peak

The National Editorial: Iran's 'failed model' should be discontinued