Hebrew Newspaper: UAE Threatens to Expel Israeli Ambassador After Netanyahu Ignores Messages

SadaNews Translation - The Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported this evening, Wednesday, that the three-person leadership of the UAE, consisting of President Muhammad bin Zayed, his brother Foreign Minister Abdullah, and National Security Council Chief Tahnoon bin Zayed, sent a strong message a month ago to the Israeli government, demanding the replacement of the Israeli ambassador in Abu Dhabi, Yossi Shelly, due to repeated misconduct related to his personal life following a scandal that occurred at a bar in Dubai.

According to the newspaper's site, as translated by SadaNews, the UAE demanded Shelly's replacement for economic and personal reasons, indicating that Israel did not respond at that time, and sent a similar message to three major businessmen and an Israeli academic, affirming that the ambassador was no longer a welcome person and could be expelled from Abu Dhabi.

A security report was raised against the Israeli ambassador to the leadership in the UAE due to his actions that do not conform to diplomatic conduct.

The UAE leadership confirmed in its message that if the ambassador of another country were caught violating personal and economic rules, he would be expelled immediately.

According to the site, Netanyahu insisted on ignoring the UAE messages and decided not to replace the ambassador, while the UAE decided not to invite the ambassador to any meetings with senior officials.

In light of the rising tensions between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, no invitation was extended to Netanyahu for an official visit to the UAE, while the opposition leader Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett were invited to meet UAE leader Muhammad bin Zayed and his brother Abdullah.