Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the United Arab Emirates was canceled on Thursday, amid a diplomatic crisis with Jordan, and because Netanyahu’s wife, Sara, is hospitalized with appendicitis.
“These difficulties apparently come from the cancelation of the Jordanian crown prince’s visit to the Temple Mount, following a dispute over security arrangements at the site,” the PMO said.
By midday Thursday, Jordan was willing to allow the flight to enter its airspace, but Netanyahu and UAE leader Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had already agreed to postpone the prime minister’s visit, for the fourth time since Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations in August.
Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah had planned to visit the al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount on Wednesday, following coordination with Israel on his security.
However, the prince arrived at the Israeli border with more armed guards than had been agreed on, Israeli sources said. The additional guards were not permitted to enter Israel, and Hussein canceled his visit.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi said that “at the last minute Israel wanted to impose new things and change the plans so that they would limit Muslims [visiting the Temple Mount]… The Crown Prince canceled his visit out of respect for the worshippers.
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“The al-Aqsa Mosque and all of its territory is a place of worship for Muslims,” Safadi said of Judaism’s holiest site. “There is no Israeli sovereignty over it. It is in occupied Jerusalem. We will not accept any Israeli intervention in its matters.”
Jordan occupied part of Jerusalem, including the Old City, from 1949-1967, not allowing Jewish worshippers to access holy sites. Israel opened the Old City, including the Temple Mount and Western Wall, to visitors of all faiths in 1967 and extended its sovereignty over all of Jerusalem in 1980.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a meeting with regional council heads on Wednesday that Netanyahu’s poor relationship with Jordanian King Abdullah is “the failure of the Netanyahu government in all of its 15 years.”
“Jordan is Israel’s strategic partner. The defense and diplomatic ties we share are a cornerstone of our national security approach. I wish to state clearly that Israel is committed to the agreements we share with Jordan and has the highest regard for King Abdullah and the Jordanian government,” Gantz said.
“Unfortunately, Netanyahu’s conduct in recent years has done significant damage to our relations with Jordan, causing Israel to lose considerable defensive, diplomatic and economic assets.”He vowed to “personally work alongside the entire Israeli defense establishment to continue strengthening our relationship with Jordan, as well as with Egypt – countries with whom we’ve had enduring peace accords for years – while also deepening ties with other countries in the region.”
Israeli-Jordanian ties have been strained during Netanyahu’s tenure, but have warmed slightly as of late. Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has met three times with his Jordanian counterpart Safadi, and Gantz reportedly met with Jordanian King Abdullah.
Netanyahu’s trip to the UAE was supposed to be his first since the announcement of the Abraham Accords in August, marking peace and normalization between the Gulf state and Israel.
Earlier Thursday, Netanyahu considered canceling his trip to the United Arab Emirates after his wife, Sarah Netanyahu, was hospitalized with appendicitis.
Sarah Netanyahu felt unwell late Wednesday night and went to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem, where she was diagnosed with appendicitis, and will remain in the hospital for several days. Netanyahu accompanied his wife to the hospital.
The prime minister had planned to meet with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the airport in the Emirati capital for a two-hour visit.
Israeli, Emirati and Saudi officials had worked on a possible secret meeting between Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his brief trip to the UAE.
“MBS is ready to meet Bibi,” a well-placed Emirati source said.
Israel and Saudi Arabia do not have diplomatic relations, but ties between the countries have been warming, especially in cooperation against their shared adversary Iran. Netanyahu and MBS, as the Saudi crown prince is known, met in November in the Saudi smart city of Neom, though neither has officially confirmed it.
Asked about meeting with MBS on Tuesday, Netanyahu quipped: “What is it like to ask questions you know you won’t get an answer to?”
The UAE trip was set to take place less than two weeks before the March 23 election, despite reports that officials in the Emirates were hesitant to host Netanyahu on a date that would be viewed as political.
The source in Abu Dhabi confirmed that the election was a consideration, but the UAE’s leadership decided to welcome Netanyahu regardless of the date.
Three previous Netanyahu visits to the UAE had been canceled: twice due to COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, as well as political developments, and once because of scheduling issues in Abu Dhabi. He had originally planned a trip of several days, with stops in Dubai and Bahrain as well.
Speaking last month of a planned visit to the UAE, the prime minister said: “It has great security, national and international importance.”
Netanyahu also plans to meet with the prime ministers of Hungary and the Czech Republic in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, to discuss cooperation on COVID-19 vaccine production.
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