Amid Gaza conflict, why do Israeli soldiers choose Dubai for leisure?

0
795
Amid Gaza conflict, why do Israeli soldiers choose Dubai for leisure?

Amid Gaza conflict, why do Israeli soldiers choose Dubai for leisure?

Why do Israeli soldiers specifically choose the UAE for relaxation after committing war crimes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza?

This question has been widely discussed on social media following the arrival of Israeli soldier Eyal Haksher in Dubai.

In early September 2024, Haksher posted photos on Instagram enjoying a luxurious dinner with the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai in the background.

Just days earlier, he had shared images of himself participating in the killing of innocents in the devastated Gaza Strip, navigating through ruined homes and streets.

This has prompted many to ask if the UAE is a safer place for Israeli soldiers than other cities around the world, amid the Israeli war on Gaza described by many officials as genocidal.

Recreational Program

Emirates Leaks, the opposition website, revealed on September 5, that the UAE government, led by President Mohammed bin Zayed, offers a special recreational program for Israeli soldiers.

This arrangement was reportedly made through an agreement between the UAE government and the Israeli Occupation government under Benjamin Netanyahu, who is accused of war crimes in Gaza.

The website reported that UAE authorities have provided exclusive recreational programs for Israeli soldiers, including those involved in the genocide against Gaza and implicated in severe atrocities against Palestinians.

Emirates Leaks revealed there is coordination between the Israeli Ministry of War and an Emirati government committee to organize regular visits for Israeli soldiers to the UAE for recreational vacations before they return to kill and destroy in Gaza.

On November 7, the Palestinian Sun News Agency provided further details about the UAE’s recreational programs. They revealed that the UAE’s recreational program included batches of soldiers from the Israeli army who had fought for extended periods in Gaza.

The program allows soldiers to spend their leave or recovery period in Dubai, providing them relief from the tension and escalation either in Gaza or along the border with Lebanon.

According to the same agency, over 5,000 Israeli soldiers have benefited from vacationing in Dubai over the past two months (July – August) thanks to the UAE program, which Abu Dhabi fully funds.

READ ALSO: WhatsApp says journalists and civil society members were targets of Israeli spyware

Despite the devastating Israeli assault on Gaza, flights between the UAE and “Israel” have continued. Israelis prefer Dubai for relaxation, fearing visits to other countries due to potential attacks amid tensions between ‘Tel Aviv’ and Tehran.

Unconditional Support

L’Express also reported on the “secret and multifaceted support” the UAE provides to “Israel” in its broader aggression against Gaza.

On November 29, 2023, the French paper noted that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed was the first Arab leader to contact Netanyahu after Operation al-Aqsa Flood attacks and the first to condemn the actions of the Palestinian resistance movement.

More significantly, the UAE went so far as to block any joint sanctions on “Israel” during the 2023 Arab–Islamic extraordinary summit on November 11. This was despite pressure from neighboring countries to impose a full blockade on the Israeli Occupation, particularly from Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, Iran, and Malaysia.

The newspaper cited Michael Koplow, research director at the Israel Policy Forum in New York, who stated, “It was not surprising [..] if there is one country in the region that will stand by Israel for as long as possible, it is the UAE.”

“This is firstly due to the very strong economic and military relations between the two countries. The second reason is the historical poor relations between the UAE and the Palestinian Authority. It is clear that Abu Dhabi does not support Hamas but is working to destroy it.”

Gathering Point

However, the scandalous leaks about the UAE’s relationship with the Israeli army were not new amid the unprecedented ongoing aggression on Gaza.

On October 17, 2023, shortly after the Israeli escalation in the Strip began, the Arab newspaper Watan, based in the United States, exposed the UAE’s role in supporting the Israeli army.

The report revealed that Dubai Airport had become a hub for gathering Israeli reservists from Asia who were required to join the Israeli army to fight in Gaza as quickly as possible.

Watan cited the ‘Israel in Dubai’ page on X, which stated that an Israeli organization, in collaboration with the Israeli consulate in Dubai, was facilitating the return of reservists to the occupied territories through Israir Airlines.

In another announcement, the page disclosed that the Israeli General Consulate in Dubai, with the support of UAE authorities, had assisted around 220 Israeli officers and soldiers in returning to “Israel” to join “the military effort” in the ongoing assault on Gaza.

READ ALSO: Hamas-Israel complete 4th hostage-prisoner swap

It was also revealed that the consulate and the Israeli embassy in Dubai had helped approximately 300 reserve soldiers reach “Israel.” The consulate has, also, facilitated the delivery of large aid and donation packages to Israeli forces on behalf of the Jewish community in Dubai.

On September 7, 2024, Yedioth Ahronoth reported on the role of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in establishing relations with “Israel,” starting with normalization and extending to the signing of numerous bilateral agreements.
In contrast, the newspaper highlighted his harsh policies against Islamists, whom he considers his “primary enemy.”

The report indicated that “the ongoing conflict” had not impacted the relationship between “Israel” and the UAE; rather, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed viewed it as an opportunity to deepen involvement in Gaza. This includes expanding influence there with the assistance of “Israel,” which shares the new ally’s animosity towards Hamas.

Military Agreements

The discussion of the entertainment program comes amid “advanced military and defense agreements” between the two governments that normalized relations in 2020.

On April 29, 2024, The Jerusalem Post revealed that large cargo planes from the UAE Air Force had landed in “Israel” multiple times over two weeks.

The newspaper explained that these flights were for transporting “security and military equipment” under a recent “defense agreement” between the two nations.

It reported that eight heavy cargo planes of the C-17 Globemaster model, all from the UAE Air Force, landed at the Nevatim Air Base in the Negev Desert, each departing an hour after landing.

The Hebrew newspaper disclosed that the head of military and security experts at the Israeli Ministry of War announced that the value of Israeli military exports for 2022 amounted to $11.2 billion.

It was further noted that 7% of this total was to Arab countries that normalized relations with “Israel” under the Abraham Accords, referring to the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco.

An incident that clearly underscores the unique nature of the UAE’s relationship with “Israel” is the enrollment of an Emirati Air Force colonel in Israeli National Security College.

This development, announced on June 27, 2022, marked a historic first for the Israeli military, as reported by the official Israeli public broadcaster Kan.

It noted that the Emirati officer began his studies at the National Security College after receiving approval from senior officials in his country, including UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed.

Each year, the college hosts dozens of students from foreign countries, including the United States, Germany, India, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Greece. However, this was the first instance of a student from an Arab and Islamic country.

Follow the Neptune Prime channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va74ZvU2v1IqKByXoX3d

Do you have breaking news, interview request, opinion, suggestion, or want your event covered? Email us at neptuneprime2233@gmail.com

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here