Axios: A secret meeting took place in Abu Dhabi between US, Israel and the UAE to discuss the future of Gaza
Israeli officials said a trilateral meeting between the United States, Israel and the United Arab Emirates was held in Abu Dhabi last Thursday to discuss the day after of the war in Gaza.
The officials read the details of the minutes of the meeting that Netanyahu became aware of the need for a realistic plan for the form of government in Gaza on the day after of the war.
They said that UAE Foreign Minister Abdul Allah bin Zayed hosted the session, which was attended from the US side by President Biden’s Middle East adviser Brett McGurk and State Department adviser Tom Sullivan.
On the Israeli side, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who is close to Netanyahu, attended.
It was also reported in detail that two senior Israelis in the Defense Ministry who were working on Israel proposals for post-war plans for Gaza had also traveled with Dermer to Abu Dhabi.
The day before the Israelis arrived in Abu Dhabi, the Emiratis presented their post-war proposals in an opinion piece published by UAE special envoy, Lana Nusseibeh.
In the article, Nusseibeh called for the deployment of a temporary international mission to Gaza, saying that such a mission would be tasked with managing the humanitarian crisis, establishing law and order, and laying the foundation for governance.
Nusseibeh has provided several conditions, including that ISAF enter Gaza at the official invitation of the Palestinian Authority.
The latter should carry out real reforms led by a new prime minister who enjoys authority and independence.
The Israeli government must also allow the PA to exercise its role in administering Gaza and agree to a political process based on a two-state solution under a Washington-led initiative, however Israel and the United States rejected the proposal.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant had earlier presented the day after plan for Gaza several months ago, very similar to the Emirati proposal, but Netanyahu immediately rejected it.
Israeli officials said Netanyahu was now more willing, at least privately, to support Galant’s plan and discuss it with the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
An Israeli official added, “Netanyahu criticized the Galant plan and blocked it for several months, but now he took it, translated it into English and presented it to Dermer to show to the Emiratis and Americans as if it were his own creation”.
