Iran protests presence of Israeli officials, withdraws from COP28
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The decision to withdraw from the climate conference comes in rejection of the presence of Israeli officials amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
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Iranian Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian (IRNA)
Iranian Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian and his accompanying delegation left the COP28 Climate Change Conference in Dubai in protest of the presence of Israeli officials.
Initially, the Iranian diplomats participated in the conference under the impression that representatives from the Israeli entity would not be in attendance. However, upon discovering their involvement, the Iranian delegation opted to exit the event as a form of protest.
Commenting on the incident, Mehrabian expressed that the Iranian delegation initially aimed to leverage the international platform to shed light on the crisis in Gaza, engage with various authorities and delegations, and advocate for the oppressed Palestinian people.
However, upon the attendance of the Israeli entity's delegation, headed by the Israeli occupation's President Isaac Herzog, the Iranian delegation deemed their presence contradictory to the conference's stated objectives.
Mehrabian emphasized that Iran's decision to leave was a principled stance opposing the inclusion of the Israeli delegation, as it contradicts the conference's objectives. The Israeli entity had recommenced its aggression in Gaza on the day Isaac Herzog attended the UAE-hosted COP28.
This comes as Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian conveyed Iran's opposition to the participation of "Israel" in the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates.
During a phone conversation with his Emirati counterpart, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the two diplomats discussed the recent developments in Gaza, particularly in the context of the extension of a temporary ceasefire after weeks of deadly Israeli strikes on Palestinians.
Additionally, the Emirati Foreign Minister briefed his Iranian counterpart on the UAE's plans to host COP28. Amir-Abdollahian expressed gratitude for the invitation extended to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. However, he raised serious concerns about the presence of Israeli representatives at the conference, particularly in light of the recent war crimes and genocidal atrocities committed by the Zionist regime in Gaza.
Iran withdraws, Qatari Emir shakes hands with Israeli President
Israeli media reported today, Friday, that Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the Climate Conference in Dubai.
Israeli media reported, "With the resumption of fighting in Gaza and the collapse of the ceasefire, the Israeli President met with the Qatari Emir this morning," adding that "the two men shook hands and spoke during the Climate Conference in the UAE."
Roi Kais, Arab Affairs Correspondent at Kan channel, commented on the scene on X, saying: "A historic image! Israeli President Herzog shakes hands with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim, during the climate conference in Dubai."
#Arab Affairs Correspondent in Kan Israeli channel shared on his 'X' account a picture of the Israeli President Isaac Herzog shaking hands with the Emir of #Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the #COP28 climate change meeting in #Dubai.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) December 1, 2023
The journalist commented on the picture… pic.twitter.com/gUxfqaB5Pa
In a statement, Hamas condemned the opportunity given to Herzog to participate in the UN Climate Conference held in the UAE at a time when his entity and army are committing horrific massacres and a genocide war against the Palestinian people, especially in Gaza, destroying residential neighborhoods, hospitals, mosques, churches, universities, and schools. Even United Nations headquarters were not spared.
The movement said it had hoped that the UAE would have refused to invite him, even if this conference is international.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) condemned, on Thursday, a visit of the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, to the United Arab Emirates.
"Receiving the president of a criminal entity that commits monstrous massacres against our people," encourages the Israeli occupation to continue its crimes against Palestinians, a statement released by the PIJ read.
The Resistance movement questioned the motives leading to such a meeting in an Arab capital, which will see a meeting with a "Nazi criminal" at a time when people around the world are condemning the occupation and taking diplomatic and popular action against it.
