الصحيفة العِبرية يديعوت أحرونوت: محمد بن زايد أكبر حلفاء وأصدقاء إسرائيل

Quote: The president of the United Arab Emirates (63) has only been in office for about two years, but for years before that he functioned as the de facto ruler of the federation that includes seven emirates. Some define him as "the most ambitious leader in the Middle East." He is careful not to be exposed to the media, at least not to foreign elements - that's why he has his brothers - who need to be given benefits so that they don't threaten his rule. Unlike other Arab leaders, despite the war, he did not cut off relations with Israel, but he is careful to condemn and personally oppose the composition of the current government. Ynet in a series of articles about the leaders around us, and this time: Mohammed bin Zayed - who has earned the nickname MBZ. In 2019, The New York Times named him the most powerful Arab ruler, in 2020, the American newspaper called him "one of the most powerful men in the world," and in 2019, he was named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine. Bin Zayed was born in 1961 in the city of Al Ain in eastern Abu Dhabi, a rural Bedouin oasis. He is the third child in the family and received a very diverse, one might even say a little adventurous, upbringing. He admired his father, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who founded the United Arab Emirates. "His father's upbringing is evident in him, both in terms of modesty, but also in terms of ambition," Dr. Moran Zega, a researcher on the United Arab Emirates at the Mitvim Institute and a lecturer at the University of Haifa and the Hebrew University, explained in a conversation with Ynet. When he was 14, his father sent him to Morocco, to give him a "challenging and formative experience." Bin Sultan gave his son a passport with a different last name so that they wouldn't know who he was and instructed him to live "like a normal person." Bin Zayed lived simply and worked for several months as a waiter at a local restaurant, prepared his own food, did his own laundry, and later said he was quite lonely. Bin Zayed was initially educated in Abu Dhabi, and received an education that was considered "urban." Later, he chose to focus on military skills and moved to study at Sandhurst in Britain, the Royal Military Academy, where he acquired his global perspectives. He trained as an officer and pilot, and when he returned For the Emirates, he focused on a military career, eventually becoming the Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Unlike other Arab countries, in the Emirates the military field is not considered a direct path to leadership. "The skills and life paths in the Emirates are very diverse," explains Dr. Zega. "In the ruling families, one of the most popular paths is actually the economic one. They go to study business and some of them go through the military path, it's not the thing that has to be followed. Bin Zayed chose the path because he was drawn to the field from the start." The ruling family in the UAE is careful not to expose itself. Bin Zayed is married to Princess Salama bint Salman al-Nahyan, they have nine children and two adopted children. He has many brothers and half-brothers, who are part of the great challenge to his rule, and until he became the most powerful man in the country he had to compete with some of them. Bin Zayed is surrounded by his family, and they have a great influence on his life and way of thinking. His mother, Fatima bint Mubarak al-Khattabi, and his half-brothers are the most influential, the most powerful, and those who make up the leadership of the UAE. Abdullah bin Zayed is the foreign minister, Tahnoun bin Zayed is the national security adviser, and Mansour bin Zayed is the vice president of the Emirates. So how do you avoid tensions and suppress the leadership aspirations of the brothers؟ Benefits and status - so that they feel satisfied or rewarded. Bin Zayed himself is very wealthy, a philanthropist and a keen football fan. He can sometimes be seen riding a bicycle in the capital wearing shorts and a helmet. He is also a fan of hunting and singing. "It's a matter of image that needs to be conveyed internally," explains Dr. Zega. "To promote, you have to work quietly" The person appointed president of the Emirates after bin Sultan's death in 2004 was actually the eldest son of his 30 descendants from his seven wives, bin Zayed's brother, Khalifa bin Zayed. But in practice, the one who increasingly ran the country behind the scenes was Mohammed. "This was part of the character of the two brothers," explains Dr. Zega. "Khalifa was less ambitious, bold and a leader and it was quite clear that others were running his government, advisors and brothers." When Khalifa was appointed ruler, Mohammed, who was bin Sultan's third son and was deputy crown prince, became crown prince. The character of Mohammed, the ruler of Abu Dhabi - the most powerful emirate in the federation where most of the oil is also concentrated, led him to take on more and more roles, which in fact gave him the power to actually run the country. Thus, he made the decisions that shaped the federation starting in 2004. In 2014, President Khalifa suffered a stroke and has rarely appeared in public since. His half-brother, Mohammed, became the de facto leader of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates. In 2022, when Khalifa died, Mohammed was officially appointed ruler - the president. In addition to the complex relationship with his brother, there have been other frictions between bin Zayed and other leaders in the Emirates, partly because of his regional ambitions. In 2015, bin Zayed made a weighty decision when he decided to send troops to the civil war in Yemen as part of the Saudi-led operation against the Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran. “The ruler of Dubai really didn’t like the adventures in Yemen, Libya, Syria and other places, which Mohammed bin Zayed is involved in,” says Dr. Gozansky. Under bin Zayed’s leadership, Abu Dhabi established trade and political ties in the region – including limited ties with Iran. Despite this, it expressed support for the United States in opposing Iran’s nuclear program. Bin Zayed created a very close network of contacts with the Americans, but also strengthened relations with China and Russia. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UAE has come under fire for its support for Moscow. In late February 2022, in a Security Council vote condemning the aggression against Ukraine and demanding a complete and unconditional withdrawal, 11 of the 15 member states supported the motion, with three abstaining, including the Emirates, along with China and India. “Some would say his ambitions are dangerous,” adds Dr. Guzansky. “He’s tried all sorts of things in the Middle East over the past decade, many of which he’s failed at. To his credit, when he doesn’t succeed at one thing, he tries other things. This is a quiet partner of Israel on all sorts of issues, and Israel stood by him when he needed it." Not out of love for Mordechai: The connection with Israel Bin Zayed was the first leader in the Persian Gulf to establish relations with Israel, as part of his attempt to increase the power of the United Arab Emirates in the region. The president of the Emirates, in accordance with the path he has chosen in life, is a fan of military technologies and makes sure to participate in conferences and exhibitions. It is not for nothing that the connection between the Emirates and Israel was created around this field - bin Zayed showed a personal interest in Israeli technologies long before the Abraham Accords. Israeli companies did not wait for normalization between the countries to operate in the Emirates. According to reports, Israeli businessman and entrepreneur Mati Kochavi and the company Logic, which he owns, were the first to start doing business with the country. Logic provided security services for oil drilling and its land borders, after a contract was signed in 2008 between the Emirates and the Swiss company AGT, which Kochavi owned. The search for these technologies was, among other things, what connected bin Zayed to Israel. The president of the Emirates, Dr. Zega explains, operates according to a "policy of diversification." He understands that he cannot rely on a single security, military, or political source. In the past, the Emirates was dependent on Britain, when it was under its control, and after gaining independence, it began to develop a dependence on the United States. "The last few years, in which the UAE was subject to attacks by the Houthis and the Iranians, made it clear to bin Zayed that he cannot put all his eggs in the American basket and that he needs to diversify his regional alliances. It is also something that gradually connected it to Israel." The Abraham Accords were not actually born out of economic circumstances or motives, they were just the bonus. "They don't need the Israeli economy, they can do just fine without us," explains Dr. Zega, "but their thinking is strategic. They really like anchors, to control and influence beyond their borders through infrastructure, assets and real estate." It was not for nothing that Mubadala Petroleum, owned by the Abu Dhabi government, decided to invest huge sums in the Israeli natural gas field 'Tamar'. "It is part of the strategic thinking to control assets in the Middle East and beyond, which will connect the Emirates to the entire world." This is an "anchor grab." For example, under the leadership of bin Zayed, even in the past year, despite the impact of the war in Gaza on Egypt, the United Arab Emirates has been buying land there. They are also operating in Gaza and planning for the "day after." Among other things, it has been reported in recent months that the Emirates has agreed in principle to participate in the "peacekeeping force" in Gaza under certain conditions. "The Emirates operates with a policy very similar to that of Qatar and very different from that of Saudi Arabia, which conducts higher politics," explains Dr. Zega. "The Emirates is bold and small enough to do such actions. Saudi Arabia puts in a lot of money, but doesn't get so dirty, and therefore remains behind. Today, for example, it has no influence on the issue of mediation with Hamas." The agreement was signed, the problem is personal Unlike other Arab countries that maintain relations with Israel, the UAE has not "broken the dishes" since October 7, and the Israeli ambassador is still in Abu Dhabi. Already at the outbreak of the war, sources involved in its policy said that they hoped to have a moderating influence on Israeli activity. However, the Emirates, under the leadership of bin Zayed, also does not spare criticism and is careful to publish statements of condemnation against Israel. Just this week, its Foreign Ministry published "a statement of solidarity with Egypt, following the Israeli accusations regarding the Philadelphia axis. These are offensive statements that threaten stability and worsen the situation in the region." Personal relationships are what ultimately determine. Bin Zayed alongside President Herzog (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO) "We don't externalize it that much and don't talk about it enough, but they are issuing a lot of statements against Israel's actions both in the West Bank and in Gaza," says Dr. Zega. "They are not doing it for lip service, they are really angry with Israel and it didn't start today." The war in the Gaza Strip broke out during a crisis in relations between Israel and the Emirates. In March last year, the UAE announced its intention to stop purchasing sensitive security systems from Israel, in light of statements and actions by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. According to reports, Bin Zayed said in a conversation with Israeli officials that "until we make sure that Prime Minister Netanyahu has a government that he controls, we will not be able to do things together." "Leaders in the Gulf in general, and in the UAE as well, rely on the ties they build on personal relationships with "The leadership on the other side," explains Dr. Zega. "When there is a lack of appreciation for the image of the leaders on the other side, the Emirates take a step back, change their attitude and move to a state of conduct for strategic purposes rather than warm relations with leaders." Although four years have passed since the signing of the Abraham Accords, bin Zayed has not yet visited Israel. The Prime Minister who visited there was Naftali Bennett, but Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet arrived in the Emirates for an official visit - although it was previously reported that one was scheduled for him and was canceled. "He has all the credit for signing the Abraham Accords, but from a personal perspective there is still an interest there," says Dr. Zega. Dr. Gozansky also emphasizes: "There have been cases of lack of understanding or frustration on the part of the Emirates that all sorts of things they signed and agreed upon with Israel, literally agreements that were signed, are not progressing either because of political considerations or because of bureaucracy. They don't understand it, there they make a decision and the next day it is implemented." In January of this year, it was reported that Netanyahu asked bin Zayed to pay "unemployment benefits" to Palestinian workers from Judea and Samaria, who were banned from entering Israel following the war. Bin Zayed, it was reported, was astonished by the request, refused, and scolded in response: "Go ask the president of Ukraine." Dr. Guzansky explains that following that request, the Emirates were angry at being treated like a wallet. "On the other hand, Israel stood by them when they needed it. They helped us during the Corona period, even before the Abraham Accords, and we stood by them after the Houthis attacked them and sent them missile defense batteries. We helped them when the Americans didn't help, that gives us a lot of points with them." As mentioned, it's no secret that the Emirates are unhappy with the composition of the government in Israel, and alongside that there are two particularly sensitive points: the Temple Mount and the annexation of Judea and Samaria. What allowed Bin Zayed to sign the Abraham Accords was to condition them on stopping the annexation or the annexation intentions that were on the agenda at the time. "They were very bothered that a government was elected that stepped on their most sensitive spots," says Dr. Zega. The criticism, as mentioned, was there even before the war, but over time it has intensified. "The relationship is under challenge today. There is a change of roles, and anyone can have a positive or negative impact on the relationship," she explains. "The Emirates wants to be more involved in the Israeli-Palestinian arena, it is much more important to them than personal relations. But as soon as people start touching and stepping on sensitive points and taking one step too far for them and crossing the red line regarding the Temple Mount and annexation, they will no longer be able to continue living with it in peace." Hamas - The Enemy: The War on Radical Islam For the time being, the Abraham Accords are not in danger, and the Emiratis see the war as an opportunity to enter more into the Gaza space and influence there through Israel. "Israel is helping them a lot. The UAE today is among the countries most involved in the Gaza arena, and this is thanks to the access that Israel gives it and is pushing Qatar out." Dr. Guzanski also emphasizes that "on the issue of Gaza they are more flexible, Hamas is their enemy." One of the things that characterized Bin Zayed in his childhood was his acquaintance with political Islam, with the Muslim Brotherhood, and later also his abandonment of them. After the twin disasters, the 9/11 attacks in the United States, he saw the Muslim Brotherhood as a significant danger to the stability of the country and global stability. The United Arab Emirates has an image of a moderate and tolerant country that promoted multiculturalism. "It's not without reason," says Dr. Zega. "It also stems from bin Zayed's character and his biography. He was educated by a private tutor, an Egyptian member of the Muslim Brotherhood, and the events of 9/11 had a great impact on him. Two of the terrorists came from the United Arab Emirates. He made a change and started promoting the whole issue of moderate Islam." The internal security policy led by bin Zayed is sometimes seen as ruthless. International observers say he has led an unprecedented crackdown on Islamists, and dozens of people accused of links to extremist elements have been sent to long prison sentences. The UAE has chosen a definite line in how it views Islam. In 2002, the Muslim Brotherhood was outlawed there, and the country launched a war of attrition against them. It is no coincidence that they were also part of the boycott of Qatar in 2017, along with three other Gulf states. "Qatar represents everything the UAE is trying to distance itself from - extremism, encouragement of violence and terrorism," says Dr. Zega. The fear in the Emirates stems, among other things, from the fact that the Muslim Brotherhood wants a reformist government that will put an end to the tribal monarchies and the current form of government. "They threaten the very foundation of what the country will look like," she explains. "This is a greater threat than the Iranian threat. They strongly object to both the concepts of democracy and the concepts of the Muslim Brotherhood." Bin Salman's role model The Emirates is a small country, with about ten million people living there, but only about one and a half million of them are real citizens. The number of foreign workers is particularly high. President bin Zayed has a lot of influence, even far beyond the borders of his country. "There was an argument for many years that he was the mentor of Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince. That he really raised him and guided him," says Dr. Guzanski. "After that, their paths diverged a bit and there was a slight conflict. There is competition between the countries, especially economically. Bin Salman saw him as a role model because he was assertive and had a desire to change the strategic environment and make changes. The rulers in the Gulf today are a different breed, unlike the previous rulers who did not have significant regional ambitions." "Mohammed's personal relationship with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, has run aground and has never been the best. But they are trying," says Dr. Zaga. "Both are pragmatic, very strong leaders, both have similar perceptions, even though they come from different backgrounds, they know that sometimes they must coordinate positions. In the past year, we have seen them meet more, they have common challenges in the region - only Qatar chose to embrace the threat and connect with extremism, and the United Arab Emirates has acted all these years with the opposite approach - to oppose and create alliances against Iran. It itself has also changed its approach and has become a country that promotes normalization with Tehran, but this is still far from being accepted by the Muslim Brotherhood."