Palestinian officials have condemned the arrival of a United Arab Emirates delegation in Israel, calling it shameful. Tuesday’s visit was the first official one by the UAE. The delegation was met by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Finance Minister Israel Katz at Ben Gurion Airport.

Al Jazeera reports that the five-hour visit, restricted to the airport, due to coronavirus concerns, is to involved the signing of agreements between the two countries. The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Wasel Abu Youssef, said, “The bilateral agreements that were announced today and the delegations that come and go, offers the occupation a strength to escalate its aggression and its crimes against the Palestinian people…….”. He added that as the overtures continue, so does Israeli settlement expansion.

Al Jazeerah reports that Palestinians have found particularly offensive the visa exemption rule for Emirati citizens, as they are not permitted free movement within, and to, the occupied territories. Further, Palestinian living in Jerusalem risk having their residency rights withdrawn if they live in the other occupied territories. More than six million Palestinian refugees around the world, are prevented by Israel from returning to their homeland, even just to visit.

Emirati citizens are now the first in the Arab world to not require entry visas to Israel.

Umm Muhammed Umar