Kathmandu— A joint statement from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates has sharply criticized Israel’s planned construction of over 3,400 homes in the E1 area between East Jerusalem and Ma’ale Adumim. The nations demanded a halt to the project, potential sanctions against those involved in settlement expansion, and reaffirmed support for a two-state solution based on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. This unusually strong rebuke suggests growing regional frustration with Israeli policies and tests the limits of normalization agreements like the Abraham Accords, which were intended to foster closer ties between Israel and Arab states.

E1 Project's Strategic Impact

The E1 project is not a typical settlement expansion; it aims to bisect the West Bank, isolating East Jerusalem from Palestinian territory. If completed, this would fundamentally alter the political geography of the conflict and potentially eliminate the territorial basis for a two-state solution. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly stated that the plan intends to effectively end any prospect of a Palestinian state. The project moved from being a political threat to an active construction plan with the approval in 2025 and subsequent publication of tenders in 2026.

UAE's Position and the Abraham Accords

The UAE’s participation in the joint condemnation is particularly noteworthy, as Abu Dhabi was a key architect of the 2020 Abraham Accords. While not signaling an abandonment of the accords, the UAE is clarifying that normalization does not equate to unconditional support for all Israeli government actions. The Emirates initially justified normalization by arguing it would halt annexation of Palestinian land and preserve the possibility of a two-state solution, and now seeks to restore those original aims. Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE representative, previously described annexing the West Bank as a “red line” that could jeopardize the spirit of the Abraham Accords.

Shifting Regional Dynamics

Israel’s current policies are creating political challenges even for countries that normalized relations. The issue isn't Israel's existence but rather the direction pursued by its present government, which rejects Palestinian statehood and continues settlement expansion. The formation of the Mecca Defense Pact – including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Pakistan – demonstrates a growing alignment among key Islamic nations, with the UAE signaling its desire to coordinate with this bloc while maintaining ties with Israel and the United States. Abu Dhabi prioritizes stable relations with its neighbors and leading powers in the Islamic world.

Calibrated Criticism and Future Outlook

The joint statement carefully framed criticism of Israel by referencing both international law and former President Trump’s peace plan, which also opposed West Bank annexation. This approach allows the UAE to pressure Israel without appearing anti-American. While a complete break in relations remains unlikely due to valuable economic, technological, and security cooperation, a gradual cooling is more probable – potentially including less frequent official contacts and increasingly critical statements from Emirati leaders. If Israel continues pursuing de facto annexation, Abu Dhabi may again consider downgrading diplomatic ties.

The recent demarche serves as a warning that normalization has political limits and does not grant Israel carte blanche to disregard the interests of Arab nations. The future of the Abraham Accords now hinges on whether Israel will heed these warnings and adjust its policies regarding Palestinian territory.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.