UAE Tells Israel To "Ask Zelensky" After Netanyahu Asked The Emirati President To Pay Palestinian Workers Barred From Israel

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan 

Axios: "Ask Zelensky:" UAE rebuffs Bibi request to pay Palestinian workers barred from Israel 

The Emirati president rebuffed a request by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pay "unemployment" stipends to Palestinian workers from the occupied West Bank whom Israel barred from entering its territory after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, an Israeli official and a source familiar with the issue told Axios. 

* "Ask Zelensky for money," Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) sarcastically told Netanyahu, the sources said. 

Why it matters: MBZ's refusal underscores the position of many Arab countries that have said they won't foot the bill to maintain the status quo in the West Bank and Gaza after the war. 

* "The notion that Arab countries will come in to rebuild and pay the bill for what's currently happening is wishful thinking," an Emirati official told Axios.  

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WNU Editor: This message from the Emirati President on not paying the salaries of Palestinian workers is also being aimed at the West. Bottom line. The Arab world is basically saying that the tens of billions that will be necessary for reconstruction and aid after the war will now be the responsibility of the West.

Israel-UAE Deal: Middle East Reaction

Daily Mail: Turkey and Iran condemn Trump's Middle East peace deal and call it a 'stab in the back' to Muslims

* Iran called historic deal between UAE and Israel a 'shameful' measure on Friday
* Warned UAE against Israel interfering in 'political equations' of the Persian Gulf
* Turkey said peoples of region would 'never forgive this hypocritical behaviour'
* UAE and Israel announced Thursday they agreed to establish full diplomatic ties

Iran and Turkey have strongly condemned Donald Trump's Middle East peace deal which has established full diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.

State TV says Iran's Foreign Ministry called the historic deal a stab in the back to all Muslims.

Turkey said the peoples of the region 'will never forget and will never forgive this hypocritical behavior' by the UAE.

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Israel-UAE Deal: Middle East Reaction

Israel-UAE deal: How the Middle East reacted -- Middle East Eye
Iran, Turkey slam Israel-UAE deal, others welcome 'historic step' -- France 24
Palestinians say UAE deal hinders quest for Mideast peace -- AP
Palestinians warn Israel-UAE deal imperils Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque -- Reuters
Turkey may recall ambassador in UAE, suspend diplomatic ties, Erdoğan says -- Daily Sabah
Iran, Turkey slam UAE, claim Israel deal a ‘dagger’ in backs of Palestinians, Muslims -- FOX News
Iran, Turkey slam UAE over agreement with Israel -- DW
Iran, Turkey lash out at UAE over agreement with Israel -- ABC News Online
Iran Condemns UAE-Israel Deal As 'Strategic Stupidity' -- Radio Farda
Iran "strongly" condemns establishment of UAE-Israel diplomatic ties -- Xinhuanet

U.S. Arranged Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran

Brian Hook, head of US State Department's Iran Action Group, arranged clandestine meetings between Israel and UAE to cooperate on Iran (AFP)

Middle East Monitor: Israel and UAE held two secret meetings on cooperation against Iran

US sources said that Israel and the United Arab Emirates had held two secret meetings during which they coordinated joint measures against Iran, reported the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.

The sources added that during the secret meetings between Israel and the UAE, which were held by the US Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, both sides exchanged intelligence on Iran, claiming that the UAE considers Iran, like Israel, as a threat to its security.

A US source said that the first secret meeting was held last spring, followed by another recent secret meeting. The official did not disclose the timing and venue of the meetings between Israel and the UAE, which have been known to a few officials in the US administration.

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WNU Editor: That is what I call smart diplomacy.

More News On Reports That The U.S. Arranged Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran

U.S. Arranges Secret Talks Between Israel, U.A.E. Over Iran -- WSJ
The U.S. Has Joined Secret Talks With Israel and the U.A.E. The Topic? Iran. -- The New York Times
Israel and UAE Held U.S.-brokered Talks on Iran, Report Says -- Haaretz
US said coordinating secret Iran talks between Israel, Emirates -- Times of Israel
Report: Israel and United Arab Emirates in Washington-Brokered Talks on Countering Iran -- Algemeiner
US Arranged Secret Israeli-UAE Talks That Got Tel Aviv to Commit to US-led Gulf Coalition – Report -- Sputnik