Once again, the UAE regime has submitted to Israeli dictates, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s status as a “diplomatic dumping ground” when it comes to ambassadorial appointments and diplomatic relations between the two sides.
In the past few hours, the UAE officially accepted the credentials of Israel’s new ambassador, Yossi Shelley, whom Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu imposed on Abu Dhabi despite previous Emirati objections.
Shelley is notorious for his hostility toward Palestinians, support for illegal Jewish settlement expansion, and a history of scandals. Before his appointment as Israel’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi, he served as the acting director of Tekuma, the Israeli authority responsible for reconstructing settlements near the Gaza border. He also previously worked in the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to the official UAE news agency WAM, Omar Obaid Al-Hassan Al-Shamsi, the UAE’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received Shelley’s credentials at the ministry’s headquarters.
WAM reported that Al-Shamsi wished the Israeli ambassador success in his mission and reaffirmed Abu Dhabi’s commitment to strengthening ties with “Israel” across all fields.
Furthermore, the agency quoted Shelley as praising the UAE’s “prestigious regional and international status” under the leadership of President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Despite Abu Dhabi’s initial objections, Netanyahu’s administration insisted on appointing Shelley as Israel’s ambassador to the UAE, according to a report published last October by the Jewish Insider news outlet.
Shelley was previously a businessman and a Likud Party candidate for the mayoral position in Be’er Sheva. He also served as the Likud Party’s director-general before Netanyahu appointed him as Israel’s ambassador to Brazil in 2016. During his time in Brazil, he cultivated a close relationship with former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
A History of Scandals
Shelley’s diplomatic career has been marred by numerous controversies. While serving as Israel’s ambassador to Brazil, he clashed with the Brazilian Jewish community, accusing them of harming Israel-Brazil relations due to their criticism of Bolsonaro.
Following the end of his term, a Brazilian woman accused him of sexual harassment.
Shelley also became embroiled in political infighting within the Israeli government in the weeks following Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023. Reports indicate that he attempted to block the flow of information to Israel’s government coordinator for hostages and missing persons, Brigadier General (Res.) Gal Hirsch. He was also accused of obstructing the appointment of an emergency official tasked with streamlining Israel’s non-military government response.
