As the U.S. plan gains more clout and gathers supporters, a quieter war unfolds—not of rockets or resolutions, but of relevance. The United Arab Emirates, often cast as a pragmatic peacemaker, is now playing a far more ambitious game: positioning itself as the future custodian of Palestinian lands, should they ever unify under a sovereign state. This is not charity. It is choreography.

When Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly amid global outrage, most Arab delegations walked out. The UAE stayed. Days later, its top diplomat met with Netanyahu in New York, signaling not just defiance of Arab consensus, but a recalibration of priorities. The message was clear: the UAE is not here to protest. It is here to negotiate its role in the “day after.”

The UAE has become Gaza’s largest aid donor, building hospitals, flying in supplies, and proposing desalination projects. But this humanitarian largesse is also a strategic down payment. By embedding itself in Gaza’s reconstruction, the UAE earns leverage over its future governance. In a region where symbolism often trumps substance, Abu Dhabi is betting on infrastructure as diplomacy.

The UAE’s maneuvering is also a direct challenge to Qatar, whose historic ties to Hamas and mediation roles have long irked both Abu Dhabi and Tel........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)