Day 699 - In Abu Dhabi, UAE tells ToI annexation is a 'red line'

6 snips

Sep 4, 2025

Jacob Magid, US bureau chief for The Times of Israel, offers a deep dive into Middle Eastern diplomacy. He discusses UAE special envoy Lana Nusseibeh's stark warning about Israeli annexation of the West Bank, labeling it a 'red line' for regional integration. Magid also explores Qatar's pivotal role in mediating the Gaza conflict and expresses frustration over the negotiation process. Plus, there's insight into the recent U.S. visa ban on Palestinian officials, affecting their participation in the UN General Assembly.

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INSIGHT

UAE Issues Public Red-Line Warning

The UAE publicly warned Israel that West Bank annexation would be a red line threatening regional integration.
Abu Dhabi issued a strong statement after private warnings allegedly failed to sway Jerusalem or Washington.

ANECDOTE

Difficulty Getting UAE Interviews

Jacob Magid described securing interviews in the UAE as difficult and cautioned about cautious official media engagement.
He said the UAE leaned into the interview to amplify warnings about annexation when private messages weren't getting through.

INSIGHT

Annexation Plans Have Long History

Annexation planning has deep precedents, including mapping committees and U.S. involvement during the first Trump term.
The key variable now is whether the U.S. will back any Israeli annexation plan under the current administration.

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Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

In an interview conducted in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, Emirati special envoy Lana Nusseibeh warned Israel that annexing the West Bank would cross a “red line” that would “end the vision of regional integration.” Today, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is meant to hold a major ministerial consultation on whether to advance. Magid sets the scene and explains what Nusseibeh and the Emiratis are trying to get across to the Israeli public.

Earlier in the week, on Monday, in Doha, Magid spoke with Majed al-Ansari, the spokesperson for Qatar’s lead negotiator, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, and heard the backstory of their frustrations over the negotiation process. We reset the scene and delve into the role of Qatar as negotiator for the Gaza war -- and other global conflicts.

The United States said on Friday it will not allow Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to travel to New York next month for a United Nations gathering of world leaders, where several US allies are set to recognize Palestine as a state. A State Department official told Magid that a US visa ban on Palestinian officials planning to attend the United Nations General Assembly, would cover Abbas along with 80 other PA officials. Magid explains the mechanism of withholding the visas and how it dates to a report written during the Biden administration.

Last week, Magid spoke with Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon about the impending slew of recognitions of a Palestinian state. Borschel-Dan notes that his remarks could be construed as dismissive: “These countries want to show that they are doing something, so they blow off steam by coming up with these declarative statements.” We hear Magid's takeaways from the conversation.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

UAE warns Israel: Annexing West Bank is a ‘red line’ that would ‘end regional integration’

After US cools on phased Gaza deal, senior Qatari official laments ‘moving goalposts’

US says it will ban PA’s Abbas, 80 other officials from attending UN General Assembly

Israel’s UN envoy: Western leaders recognizing Palestinian state to ‘blow off steam’

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by Podwaves.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump, center, with from left, Bahrain Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, during the Abraham Accords signing ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on September 15, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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