The President of the UAE rejects a proposal from Netanyahu to pay the wages of Palestinian workers
The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed rejected a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pay the salaries of Palestinian workers from the occupied West Bank, who were prevented by Israel from entering its territory after the Hamas attack on October 7.
According to the sources, Bin Zayed told Netanyahu, “Ask the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for money”.
Mohammed bin Zayed’s refusal highlights the position of many Arab countries that said they wouldn’t pay the bill for the status quo in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after the war.
“The idea that Arab countries will come to rebuild and pay the bill for what is currently happening is just wishful thinking,” an Emirati official stated.
Shortly after the events of October 7, the Israeli government imposed a lock-down on the occupied West Bank for security reasons.
This means that more than 100,000 Palestinians who live in the West Bank but work in Israel were unable to enter Israeli territory.
The deterioration of the Palestinian economy and the increase in unemployment due to the war have increased concerns between the Israeli security establishment and the administration of US President Joe Biden that such circumstances may lead to a violent escalation in the West Bank.
The Israeli Economic Cabinet, led by ultra-nationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, rejected a proposal from the Israeli Ministry of Defense to allow some Palestinian workers into Israel.
In an attempt to find a solution to the issue without having to confront members of his coalition, Netanyahu tried to convince other countries to pay the wages of Palestinian workers.
The Israeli official and the source familiar with the matter said that Netanyahu turned to Mohammed bin Zayed a few weeks ago and asked for help regarding the Palestinians.
Mohammed bin Zayed said he was ready to help, but when Netanyahu specifically asked whether the UAE would be willing to pay wages to Palestinian workers, the Emirati president was stunned, the informed source said.
According to the source, Mohammed bin Zayed didn’t believe that the Israeli Prime Minister believed that he would be willing to pay the price for the problem that arose due to Israel’s decision not to allow the workers to enter.
The Israeli official and informed source said that Mohammed bin Zayed told Netanyahu that he couldn’t do this, and then sarcastically suggested to the Israeli Prime Minister that he turn to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instead.
Mohammed bin Zayed said that Zelensky receives a lot of money from many countries, so he may be able to help him.
