Israel Treats the UAE as a “Diplomatic Trash Bin”
Netanyahu’s Envoy, Known for Scandals and Anti-Palestinian Stance, Officially Received in Abu Dhabi.
Watan-The Emirati regime has once again submitted to Israel, which has effectively treated Abu Dhabi as a “diplomatic trash bin” when it comes to appointing ambassadors and diplomatic figures between the two countries.
In the past few hours, the UAE officially announced that it has received the credentials of Israel’s new ambassador, Yossi Shelley, who was imposed by Netanyahu despite Abu Dhabi’s previous rejection of him.
Shelley is known for his extreme hostility toward Palestinians, his support for Jewish settlement expansion, and
his history of scandals. Before being appointed ambassador to Abu Dhabi, he served as the acting director of the Tekuma Authority, responsible for rebuilding Israeli settlements in the Gaza border region. He previously worked in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
UAE Accepts Israeli Ambassador Amid Controversy
The UAE’s official news agency (WAM) reported that Omar Obaid Al-Hassan Al-Shamsi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a copy of Shelley’s credentials at the ministry’s headquarters.
WAM stated that Al-Shamsi wished the Israeli ambassador success in his duties and affirmed Abu Dhabi’s commitment to strengthening relations with “Israel” in all fields.
The agency added that “the new Israeli ambassador praised the prominent and prestigious status the UAE enjoys regionally and internationally under the leadership of President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”
According to the Jewish Insider website, Netanyahu’s administration insisted on appointing Shelley as ambassador to Abu Dhabi despite Emirati objections.
The site quoted a private source saying, “The Emiratis feel like they are being treated as a diplomatic trash bin. They don’t want the ambassador to be one of Netanyahu’s rejects who is no longer welcome in his office.”
Shelley was previously a businessman and a Likud Party candidate for mayor of Beersheba, as well as the party’s director-general, before Netanyahu appointed him as Israel’s ambassador to Brazil in 2016. He developed a close relationship with former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Shelley’s Scandals and Political Controversies
Shelley has a scandal-ridden history. During his tenure as ambassador, he had a fallout with the Brazilian Jewish community, claiming that their criticism of Bolsonaro harmed Israel-Brazil relations. After his term ended, a Brazilian woman accused him of sexual harassment.
Shelley was also involved in political power struggles in the weeks following the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7, 2023. Reports indicate that he attempted to block the flow of information to the government coordinator for hostages and missing persons, Brigadier General (Res.) Gal Hirsch, and prevented the appointment of an emergency official who was supposed to streamline the government’s non-military response.
