A new stab in the back of Palestine: UAE, “Israel" ink free trade deal
Just two days after the Israeli settlers desecrated Al-Aqsa, unleashing a new wave of violence against Palestinians under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces, the UAE comes out with a new deal with โIsraelโ.
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The flags of the United Arab Emirates, “Israel” and Expo 2020 Dubai flutter at Expo 2020 Dubai (REUTERS)
At a time when more than 2,600 Israeli settlers desecrated Al-Aqsa during the so-called “Flag March”, the UAE inked a free trade agreement with the Israeli occupation - the latter's first with an Arab state.
Turning a blind eye to the ongoing bloodshed of Palestinians, UAE Foreign Trade Minister Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said in a tweet: “Today we signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with 'Israel' that builds on the strong foundations laid by the Abraham Accords”.
Today we signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with #Israel that builds on the strong foundations laid by the Abraham Accords. It will push the value of our non-oil bilateral trade beyond $10 billion within five years. ๐ฆ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฑ pic.twitter.com/j5g1Q30eI4
— ุฏ. ุซุงูู ุงูุฒููุฏู (@ThaniAlZeyoudi) May 31, 2022
Al Zeyoudi further stressed that the agreement will push the value of non-oil bilateral trade beyond $10 billion within five years.
Amir Hayek, “Israel's” ambassador to the UAE, tweeted "mabruk" (congratulations) alongside a photo of Emirati and Israeli officials holding documents at a signing ceremony in Dubai.
The UAE and Israel will sign FTA (CIPA) in the next hour. ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฆ๐ช@OrnaBarbivay @misrad_calcala @IsraelMFA
— Ambassador Amir Hayek (@HayekAmir) May 31, 2022
Earlier, Israeli media claimed that the free trade agreement between "Israel" and the UAE will increase Israeli exports to the UAE and will grant immediate or gradual tax exemption on 96 percent of trade between the two sides.
The UAE was the first Gulf country to normalize relations with “Israel”, and the third Arab country to do so, following Egypt and Jordan.
Following the normalization agreement, EAPC, an Israeli pipeline company, announced that it signed a preliminary agreement to assist in the transportation of oil from the United Arab Emirates to Europe via a pipeline connecting the Red Sea city of “Eilat”, an occupied Palestinian land, and the Mediterranean port of Askalan.
