UAE says Israeli annexation of West Bank territories will 'irreparably damage' efforts toward 'regional integration'

Officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have warned that Israeli annexation of any West Bank territories would “irreparably damage” Israel’s efforts to achieve “regional integration.”

“These plans, if carried out, will do substantial damage to the UAE-Israel relationship,” an anonymous UAE official told Axios.

“And they will irreparably damage whatever remains of the vision of regional integration. In many ways, the choice before Israel right now is annexation or integration.”

Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Assistant Minister for Political Affairs, publicly commented on the situation.

“We call on the Israeli government to suspend these plans,” Nusseibeh said.

“Extremists, of any kind, cannot be allowed to dictate the region’s trajectory,” she continued. “Peace requires courage, persistence, and a refusal to let violence define our choices.”

The comments from UAE officials come as the Israeli government is reportedly considering annexing parts of the West Bank where many Israeli settlers live.

This decision, which will be considered as a response to an increasing number of nations that have said they plan to recognize a Palestinian state.

Ynet reported that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened the meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, alongside military officials who were asked to present security assessments.”

Smotrich, who will be present at the meeting on Thursday, proposes that Israel should annex 82% of the territory.

“It is time to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and remove once and for all the idea of dividing our small land and establishing a terrorist state in its heart,” he said during a presentation of his annexation proposal on Wednesday.

The proposal calls for “maximum territory and minimum Arab population.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has vocally supported Israel’s right to the disputed land.

“Judea and Samaria are part of Israel,” he told Netanyahu last month. “We are working to eliminate the use of the term ‘West Bank’ in the administration, in Congress, and in the federal government.”