Israel – United Arab Emirates relations
Encyclopedia
Israel – United Arab Emirates relations are pursued behind the scenes. Officially, the United Arab Emirates
does not recognize Israel
as a state, and the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.
and its high-resolution imagery, in addition to services already received from the Eros A. In 2006, a contract was signed with ImageSat International, which owns and operates Eros A and B, which are essentially commercial knock-offs of Israel's Ofek spycraft. Israel has operated an informal interest office in Abu Dhabi for several years.
was denied a visa
by the UAE, and thus prevented from playing at the Dubai Tennis Championships
. A number of players, among them Venus Williams
, condemned the visa rejection, and Women's Tennis Association
chief Larry Scott
said that he had considered canceling the tournament, but chose not to after consulting Pe'er. Tournament director Salah Tahlak said that Pe'er was refused on the grounds that her appearance could incite anger in the Arab country, after she had already faced protests at the ASB Classic over the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
. The WTA said that it would review future tournaments in Dubai. Due to the action, Tennis Channel decided not to televise the event and The Wall Street Journal
dropped its sponsorship. The 2008 winner of the men's singles Andy Roddick
chose not to defend his title, with prize money of over $2 million, to protest against the UAE's refusal to grant Pe'er a visa. "I really didn't agree with what went on over there," Roddick said.
Uzi Landau
attended a renewable energy conference in Abu Dhabi
. He was the first Israeli minister to ever visit UAE.
in Dubai
on January 19, 2010 led the UAE to call for the arrest via Interpol
of Meir Dagan
, director of Israel's Mossad
. Israel has neither denied nor confirmed any involvement. Dubai
's Chief of Police, Dhahi Khalfan Tamim
, stated that all travellers suspected of being Israeli will not be allowed into the country, even if they arrived on foreign passports.
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
does not recognize Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as a state, and the two countries do not have diplomatic relations.
Commercial ties
Abu Dhabi is negotiating a commercial deal with Israel that would grant it access to the Israeli-built Eros B satelliteEROS (satellite)
Earth Resources Observation Satellite is a series of Israeli commercial Earth observation satellites, designed and manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries , with optical payload supplied by El-Op. The satellites are owned and operated by ImageSat International, another Israeli company, with...
and its high-resolution imagery, in addition to services already received from the Eros A. In 2006, a contract was signed with ImageSat International, which owns and operates Eros A and B, which are essentially commercial knock-offs of Israel's Ofek spycraft. Israel has operated an informal interest office in Abu Dhabi for several years.
Shahar Pe'er incident
In February 2009, Israeli tennis player Shahar Pe'erShahar Pe'er
Shahar Pe'er is an Israeli professional tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is World No. 11, which she achieved on January 31, 2011 ....
was denied a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
by the UAE, and thus prevented from playing at the Dubai Tennis Championships
2009 Dubai Tennis Championships
The 2009 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships was a 500 Series event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier 5 event on the 2009 WTA Tour. Both of the events took place at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
. A number of players, among them Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
, condemned the visa rejection, and Women's Tennis Association
Women's Tennis Association
The Women's Tennis Association , founded in 1973 by Billie Jean King, is the principal organizing body of Women's Professional Tennis. It governs the WTA Tour which is the worldwide professional tennis tour for women. Its counterpart organization in the men's professional game is the Association of...
chief Larry Scott
Larry Scott (sports administrator)
Larry Scott is an American sports administrator and former professional tennis player who is currently the Commissioner of the collegiate Pacific-12 Conference...
said that he had considered canceling the tournament, but chose not to after consulting Pe'er. Tournament director Salah Tahlak said that Pe'er was refused on the grounds that her appearance could incite anger in the Arab country, after she had already faced protests at the ASB Classic over the 2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
2008–2009 Israel–Gaza conflict
The Gaza War, known as Operation Cast Lead in Israel and as the Gaza Massacre in the Arab world, was a three-week bombing and invasion of the Gaza Strip by Israel, and hundreds of rocket attacks on south of Israel which...
. The WTA said that it would review future tournaments in Dubai. Due to the action, Tennis Channel decided not to televise the event and The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
dropped its sponsorship. The 2008 winner of the men's singles Andy Roddick
Andy Roddick
Andrew Stephen "Andy" Roddick is an American professional tennis player and a former World No. 1. He is currently the second highest-ranked American player, behind Mardy Fish....
chose not to defend his title, with prize money of over $2 million, to protest against the UAE's refusal to grant Pe'er a visa. "I really didn't agree with what went on over there," Roddick said.
Uzi Landau visit
On January 16, 2010, Israel's Minister of National InfrastructureNational Infrastructure Minister of Israel
The National Infrastructure Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure. From its establishment in 1977 until 1996, the post was known as the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure . The current minister is Uzi Landau of Yisrael Beiteinu.It succeeded...
Uzi Landau
Uzi Landau
Uzi Landau is an Israeli politician, member of the Knesset for Yisrael Beiteinu and Minister of National Infrastructure. Previously a Likud MK, he served as Minister of Internal Security between 2001 and 2003.-Biography:...
attended a renewable energy conference in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
. He was the first Israeli minister to ever visit UAE.
Mabhouh assassination
The assassination of Mahmoud al-MabhouhAssassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh
The assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, took place on January 19, 2010, in a Dubai hotel room. Al-Mabhouh—a co-founder of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamist Palestinian militant group Hamas—was wanted by the Israeli government for the kidnapping and murder of two...
in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
on January 19, 2010 led the UAE to call for the arrest via Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
of Meir Dagan
Meir Dagan
Meir Dagan is a former Israel Defense Forces officer and former Director of the Mossad .-Biography:...
, director of Israel's Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
. Israel has neither denied nor confirmed any involvement. Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
's Chief of Police, Dhahi Khalfan Tamim
Dhahi Khalfan Tamim
Dahi Khalfan Tamim is a Lieutenant General and chief of the Dubai Police Force, for the Emirate of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. He came to international attention while overseeing the investigation of the group suspected of assassinating Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.- Biography :Tamim was born in...
, stated that all travellers suspected of being Israeli will not be allowed into the country, even if they arrived on foreign passports.