UAE ‘betrayed’ Muslim world with Israel deal: Khamenei

TEHRAN AFP Sept1, 2020 - Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday accused the United Arab Emirates of betraying the Muslim world with its agreement to normalise relations with Tehran’s arch-foe Israel.   

 “The UAE betrayed the world of Islam, the Arab nations, the region’s countries, and Palestine,” Khamenei said in a speech, excerpts of which were broadcast by state television.   

 “Of course, this betrayal won’t last long but the stigma will stay with them,” he added.   

In the agreement, only the third such deal it has struck with an Arab country, Israel pledged to suspend annexation of Palestinian lands.   

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that did not mean Israel was abandoning plans to annex the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements across the occupied West Bank. 

 
 “I hope the Emiratis soon wake up and compensate for what they have done,” Khamenei said.