UAE Meets Israel PM, Skips Arab Walkout at UN

New York, September 27, 2025: While Arab nations voiced outrage over Israel’s ongoing Gaza offensive at the UN General Assembly, the UAE charted a markedly different course, meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a closed-door session and refraining from joining a coordinated Arab walkout.

According to an official UAE readout, the meeting between Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Netanyahu focused on the “urgent need to end the war in Gaza and protect civilian lives.” The two leaders also discussed regional de-escalation and humanitarian access.

During Netanyahu’s address to world leaders, several Arab delegates, including those from Jordan, Qatar, and Algeria, staged a walkout in protest. UAE diplomats, however, remained inside the UN hall, drawing criticism from some quarters for not aligning with the broader Arab stance amid rising Palestinian casualties.

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The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Sheikh Abdullah “stressed the urgent need to end the war in Gaza, reach a permanent and sustainable ceasefire, prevent further loss of life, and put an end to the tragic conditions facing civilians.” He also “reaffirmed the UAE's support for all efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution,” according to the ministry.

Veteran Emirati diplomat and presidential advisor Dr. Anwar Gargash defended the UAE’s approach, saying, “Just as the UAE's position was decisive in closing the file on Israel's annexation of Palestinian lands, the meeting tonight between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and the Israeli Prime Minister in New York is a bold step to support international efforts to end the Gaza war and reach a permanent ceasefire that puts an end to the humanitarian tragedy and bolsters the path to peace.”

Analysts say the UAE is pursuing a delicate diplomatic balance—maintaining ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords while promoting dialogue and humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Critics, however, view the UAE’s approach as prioritizing strategic alliances over collective Arab solidarity and moral clarity.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, the UAE’s strategy of engagement rather than protest highlights its aim to influence outcomes through dialogue, even during moments of heightened regional tension.