U.A.E. to Suspend Military Deals with Israel over Ministers' Statements, West Bank Violence: Reports

The U.A.E. is cancelling military deals it signed with Israel over statements by Israeli ministers and recent West bank violence, a report has claimed.

However, the report was rubbished by the office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

An unsourced report by Israel’s Channel 12 claimed that the U.A.E. was taking the above stern actions following incendiary comments and behavior from far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as well as recent West Bank violence and the violent settler rampage in Huwara.

The TV network cited U.A.E. President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as saying that “until we can ascertain that (Israeli) Prime Minister Netanyahu has a government that he can control, we can’t work together.”

Netanyahu’s Office issued a strong denial, calling the report “baseless” and said that Israel and the U.A.E. are constantly holding “fruitful diplomatic contact… including today.”

U.A.E.’s state-owned EDGE Group is collaborating with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to develop anti-drone systems.

The U.A.E. has reportedly bought Rafael-produced SPYDER mobile interceptors last year; and is said to have deployed the Barak air defense system.