UAE tycoon slammed for Israel talks
Mohammed Ali Alabbar, who was in Tel Aviv to discuss possible purchase of evacuated Gaza homes, says he is opposed to normalizing ties with Israel
A United Arab Emirates' business tycoon, whose talks here last week sparked a furor in the Gulf state, said he backed a UAE stand against normalizing ties with Israel until there was peace with the Palestinians.
Mohammed Ali Alabbar said in a statement that last week's trip was a personal one aimed at helping the Palestinian people and denied meeting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Alabbar had met Vice Premier Shimon Peres in Tel Aviv to discuss buying structures in Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip when Israel pulls out. He had also briefly met with Sharon.
The UAE, like most Arab states, has no diplomatic ties with Israel and the visit to Tel Aviv by Alabbar, who is chairman of Dubai property firm Emaar and head of Dubai Economic Department, drew harsh criticism.
"I found a profound desire amongst my Palestinian brothers to maintain the assets that are built on these settlements instead of having them demolished by the Israeli forces upon their expected withdrawal," Alabbar said in the statement.
"Together we held the view that the Palestinian people could benefit from those assets rather than having to spend five to six years constructing replacement assets.
"I am committed to the Palestinian cause, which is in line with the declared position of the UAE which continuously calls for ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, including Jerusalem, and for the return of all occupied lands to the Palestinian people," he added.
UAE officials have not publicly commented on the visit
A newspaper commentator had accused Alabbar of trying to embarrass the UAE and a non-official body urged the government to prevent any purchase deal, saying it would "reward the Israeli enemy for its continued crimes".
Alabbar said if the Palestinians wanted to make use of settlement assets the idea would be presented to international and regional humanitarian organizations and Arab firms.
"Nonetheless, if one of the companies I work with would want to adopt this benevolent social cause then it would be presented to the management of the company," he added.
Israel's presence at an annual IMF/World Bank summit held in Dubai in 2003 sparked outrage across the Arab world, where anger at Israel's conflict with the Palestinians runs deep.
The UAE stressed then that it was only hosting the global meeting and would only establish ties with Israel after the Jewish state and the Palestinians reach lasting peace.
