UAE invites Israel, Syria leaders to join COP28 climate conference
Emirati leaders extended a long-sought invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Syrian regime's Bashar Assad to attend the UN climate conference, known as COP28, in November.
Netanyahu has repeatedly called for closer ties with Arab countries across the region, but has yet to pay the UAE an official visit since the Abraham Accords were signed.
The United Arab Emirates has invited Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the climate crisis conference COP28 to be held in Dubai in November, the UAE embassy in Israel said.
On Tuesday, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also invited dozens of other leaders including Syrian regime's Bashar Assad to COP28, in Dubai.
Assad, who has been internationally ostracised during Syria's civil war, has also been invited after returning to the Arab League following a 12-year suspension.
The Israelis did not immediately accept the invitation, but Netanyahu thanked the Emiratis for the gesture.
Netanyahu's return to the world stage
The invitation falls short of the high-profile bilateral visit Netanyahu has sought. But a trip to the Gulf Arab country would nonetheless give an important boost to the Israeli leader who has established official ties with the UAE.
The 2020 Abraham Accords normalised relations between the two countries and Netanyahu has repeatedly called for closer ties with Arab countries across the region, but has yet to pay the UAE an official visit since the accords were signed.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has sought to return to the world stage. Since returning to office late last year, he has made official visits to Italy, Germany and Britain.
He had hoped to visit the UAE shortly after his right-wing government took office, but the plan was postponed after far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir last January stormed the Al Aqsa Mosque compound.
The UAE condemned Ben-Gvir's actions at the time. He stormed the site again on Sunday, declaring Israel “in charge” and drawing renewed criticism from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Türkiye, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and the United States.
Netanyahu's alliance with far-right figures like Ben-Gvir has drawn repeated criticism from close allies. He remains uninvited to visit US President Joe Biden in Washington, which some interpret as a White House snub.
The annual UN climate talks are designed to keep countries accountable to their pledges to cut down on carbon emissions.
In November, the talks in Dubai will be hosted by Sultan al Jaber, the chief executive officer of the Emirates’ state oil company.
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