Emiratis accuse Netanyahu of exploiting normalization deal for election gain

Abu Dhabi and Jerusalem CNN — The United Arab Emirates has publicly distanced itself from Benjamin Netanyahu over concerns the Israeli Prime Minister was using Abu Dhabi to boost his prospects in upcoming Israeli elections. Netanyahu, who faces a general election in five days’ time, has taken to name-dropping Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in recent appearances and campaign stops, billing himself as the facilitator of multi-billion-dollar UAE investment projects in Israel, and suggesting his opponents do not have the same clout. I think that is another question the public is faced with - who will propel our economy forward?” On Wednesday morning, Israeli radio, citing people inside the Prime Minister’s Office, reported that Netanyahu was set to fly to Abu Dhabi the following day. Days later, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmad al-Jaber warned that plan should not be seen as “politically associated.” The normalization agreement, announced last August and signed on the White House south lawn a month later, prompted a flurry of business dealings and warm exchanges between the two countries – the relationshiplikened to a “whirlwind honeymoon.” Netanyahu himself has been keen for some time to travel to Abu Dhabi, a trip that would serve to underline his diplomatic achievements as he fights a tight election battle, but so far to no avail.