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Israel began evacuating most of its diplomatic mission staff in the United Arab Emirates, Hebrew media reported late on July 31, right after the National Security Council (NSC) sharpened its travel warning for Israelis staying in the Gulf country.
“This comes amid growing indications that terrorist organizations (including Iranian-affiliated groups, Hamas, Hezbollah and global Jihad) are stepping up efforts to harm Israelis,” the council said in a statement.
“It is believed there is increased motivation for revenge” following Israel’s war with Iran, “in addition to rising anti-Israel incitement and pro-Palestinian sentiment,” the council added. “In light of this, the NSC emphasizes the potential for terrorist attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets in the UAE, particularly around Jewish holidays and Sabbaths.”
The Jewish community in the UAE has grown since the country established formal ties with Israel under a United States-brokered agreement dubbed the Abraham Accords.
Last November, Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Zvi Kogan was killed in the UAE, which is viewed as one of the safest places in the Middle East. Israel’s Mossad spy agency accused Iran of being behind the murder of Kogan. However, the Iranian embassy in Abu Dhabi denied any Iranian involvement in the killing, and said no evidence had been presented to support the accusation.
The Gulf country sentenced three Uzbekistani citizens to death for the murder later in March, without officially accusing Iran.
The evacuation of the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi highlights the rising tensions in the Middle East. Israel’s 12-day war on Iran and its recent escalation in the Gaza Strip are clearly making the region less stable. Meanwhile, diplomacy seems to be absent.
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