Protestors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) against the normalization of relations with Israel founded an association that opposes any economic, sports, security, and political deals the Persian Gulf country signs with the occupation state.

Iran Press/ Middle East: Founded by six UAE dissidents, including Saeed Nasser Al-Taniji, Saeed Khadim Bin Touq Al-Mari, Ahmad Al-Shaybah, Hamid Abdullah Al-Nuaymi, Hamad Mohammed Al-Shamesi, and Ibrahim Mahmoud Al-e Haram, the alliance is called the UAE Resistance Union Against Normalisation (Al-Rabetat Al-Emaratiyat Le Moqawemat Al-Tatbi’e).

In a statement, the founders of the association described the UAE’s attempts to normalize relations with Israel as “betrayal” and added that the steps “legitimize Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands”, the Middle East Monitor reported.

On 13 August, US President Donald Trump announced a peace deal between the UAE and Israel brokered by Washington.

Abu Dhabi claimed that the deal was an effort to stave off Tel Aviv’s planned annexation of the occupied West Bank, however, opponents believe normalization efforts have been in the offing for many years as Israeli officials have made official visits to the UAE and attended conferences in the country which had no diplomatic or other ties with the occupation state.

Netanyahu last week repeated that annexation is not off the table, but has simply been delayed.

The association aims to represent the people of the UAE who reject the agreement and raise awareness about the “danger of normalization” among citizens of the UAE and support Palestinians.

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