UAE acts as connecting loop between Saudi and Israel

Iranian expert in regional affairs, Mehdi Azizi says the UAE acts as a connecting loop between Saudi and Israel, adding such states as the UAE and Bahrain.

Also the acting Qodsna managing director, Azizi was answering a question by the Tasnim news agency on the UAE moves against Iran and the recently leaked emails of the UAE ambassador to the US.

Hackers released email exchanges between the Emirati ambassador to the US and top foreign policy figures that include details of a forthcoming meeting between UAE officials and a pro-Israel think tank.

UAE envoy Yousef al-Otaiba is an influential figure in Washington DC, and is in "almost constant phone and email contact" with US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner.

Azizi cited the UAE trade ties with Israel, visa-free relations for Israeli tourists, Israeli companies’ investment in the UAE and supply of security equipment to the UAE as some of the cases of relations between the two sides.

He said states like the UAE have no popular basis and therefore seek to find sources of support outside the states, adding the Persian Gulf Arab littoral states have to rely on the US and Israel in order to secure their stability.

The Iranian political expert said the states’ dependence have also emerged as a hurdle to the liberation of Palestine.

Asked about Qatar-Saudi rift, the expert said the Arab states decision to cut ties with Qatar showed they are dependent on Saudi.

Azizi added however that the rift must not be taken seriously as the states would converge again once they feel a common threat as history shows.

The expert said the UAE acts a connecting loop between Saudi and Israel and seeks to press Qatar to keep it from Iran.