Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed: support for Palestinian cause is unwavering

UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs tells Palestinian community in Emirates that decision to forge Abraham Accord was strategic necessity

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. Reuters

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, has told the Palestinian community in the UAE that the country's support for their cause is unshakable.

"As the UAE is taking a sovereign decision today for the sake of delivering a peaceful future in the region, I assure you that you're living in your second homeland," Sheikh Abdullah said in an online meeting with representatives of the Palestinian community.

"I assure you anew that these unshakable bonds between the UAE and the Palestinians will remain solid and will never change."

He said the UAE’s stance would remain supportive of the Arab position calling for an independent Palestinian state with occupied East Jerusalem as its capital.

"We will continue to support the Palestinian cause based on our historic stance that stems from a deeply rooted, unshakable belief that will never change as a result of any considerations," Sheikh Abdullah said.

"I’d like to assure all the audience here that the UAE sees peace-building as a strategic necessity for the region.

"However, this strategic necessity will not come at the expense of our support for the Palestinian cause and the rights of our fraternal Palestinian people."

The visit by a US and Israeli delegation follows the announcement of the Abraham Accord on August 13 to normalise relations between the UAE and Israel.

The UAE, US and Israel reaffirmed on Monday evening that the accord reached by the three nations is "a courageous step towards a more stable, integrated and prosperous Middle East".

The conclusion came in a three-nation statement issued during the visit to the UAE by a top US-Israeli delegation, led by Jared Kushner, senior adviser to US President Donald Trump.

"It inverts traditional thinking about the way to address the region’s problems and challenges, focusing on pragmatic steps that have tangible, practical outcomes," the statement said.

As part of the accord, Israel will halt all annexation of Palestinian territories in exchange for establishing diplomatic ties with the Emirates.

The delegation arrived on the first commercial flight between the UAE and Israel.

The visiting group also included US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien and Meir Ben-Shabbat, head of the Israeli National Security Council.