8 May 2024: Diplomatic sources have disclosed an intriguing development involving the UAE and South Africa, indicating an offer from the UAE to South Africa. The offer, reportedly, includes significant investments aimed at dissuading South Africa from pursuing legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice.
Citing leaked information from Emirates Leaks sources, emiratesleaks reports UAE officials embarked on a campaign to persuade South Africa to drop its lawsuit against Israel. This persuasion tactic involved offering substantial investments, particularly in the oil refinery sector, amounting to billions.
The report suggests that Emirati officials spent weeks clandestinely proposing various incentives to their South African counterparts, which included the prospect of fostering economic relations between the two nations. In return, the UAE requested South Africa to either withdraw its lawsuit against Israel or mitigate the severity of the charges, especially those related to genocide, within the Court of Justice file.
Despite these efforts, South Africa remained steadfast in its decision to pursue legal action against Israel, even after initiating the lawsuit. This unwavering stance by South Africa reportedly left Emirati officials disappointed, particularly in Abu Dhabi, as their attempts failed to yield the desired outcome.
This development unfolds against the backdrop of the UAE positioning itself as a prominent regional ally of Israel amidst the ongoing conflict with the Gaza Strip. Media outlets and online platforms associated with the UAE have launched a robust campaign in support of Israel while seeking to discredit Palestinian resistance groups.
Additionally, the UAE has strategically leveraged its regional relationships to prevent other arenas from opening against Israel, notably in Syria. Emirati warnings to the Syrian regime underscore the UAE’s efforts to maintain stability in the region and avoid exacerbating tensions.
The UAE’s influence extends beyond regional dynamics, as evidenced by its close relationship with Israel following the signing of the historic “Abraham Accords” peace treaty in 2020. Despite criticism and growing discontent from Arab and Islamic communities, the UAE maintains a stance of separating trade from politics.
In light of recent developments, the UAE’s attempts to sway South Africa’s legal action against Israel shed light on the complexities of diplomatic relations and the intersection of politics and economics in the Middle East.
