Iran leader slams U.A.E. over visit by Israel minister
Minister Uzi Landau attended international energy conference in first official visit to Gulf state.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Iran Israel newsTop Iranian clergyman Ahmad Khatami slammed the United Arab Emirates on Saturday for its decision to allow National Infrastructure minister Uzi Landau to arrive at its international energy conference ealier in the week.
"This is an unacceptable normalization," Khatami said, calling the U.A.E. leaders responsible for the invitation "sanctimonious hypocrites."
Minister Uzi Landau said on Sunday he did not meet with any U.A.E. officials while attending a conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), based in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.
The event marked the first time Israel had sent a cabinet minister to the United Arab Emirates.
Landau said the Israeli delegation entered the country after special arrangements were made. "They had to do it since they committed themselves to making it possible for all member states, with or without relations, to participate in the agency's activities," Landau said in a phone interview from Abu Dhabi.
Last year the U.A.E. denied entry to Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer to an international tournament in Dubai. The UAE officials said Peer was denied a visa because of anti-Israel sentiments in the Gulf state following last year's three-week war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The tournament was fined a record $300,000 for refusing Peer the entry. Last week the U.A.E. authorities sent a written assurance to the World Tennis Association that all players who will qualify for the 2010 championships will be allowed into the country and welcome to play in Dubai.
On Sunday, an official with the U.A.E.'s Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press that "allowing an Israeli cabinet minister to participate in the agency's activities was part of obligations in hosting [the agency] in the UAE."
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press. He added, that Israel's participation in the international event in the oil-rich Abu Dhabi will have no implications or indications for bilateral links between the U.A.E. and any other party.
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David Nigel Braham Congratulations for your eccelent post as i agree with your comments 100%. If only the Arab world ,would ever come to realise as to how much ,they have to gain by normalising their relationship with The State of Irael . Let us hope for better days to come, for the sake of peace and stability, and whats even more ,for the sake of our future prosperity in to the next generations. Daniel Salaman London UK Nicosia Cyprus.
As far as I am concerned you along with the people running Iran today are mentally sick.As far as Iranians are concerned, we do not have any problems with the Jewish people despite the false portryal by the likes our phony president Ahmadinejad.You don't even know what your own country stands for.Shame on your kind.
Amir Khan is an excellent fighter, working for the best trainer in the business. He fought the Ukrainian American Salita who was the mandatory challenger as a career step. Amir fights for his long term future and for Bolton, whereas his opponent fought for, primarily, the money. With a 31-0 record, he had a chance at a 6-figure purse. As a dirt poor immigrant, he bravely went into the ring with a much better fighter to get a pay-day that few would refuse. The media nonsense about Jew v Muslim was a promoter's dream but little else. He was ill-advised to take an Israeli flag in there. But at least it makes you feel better about yourself.
Natalie you are mixing apples and Jaffa oranges. This is an entirely different issue. This is not political. The adolescent humanity-hating Mullahs in Teheran would rather the human race suffer than see Israel invited to a conference where their technological knowledge can contribute to the well-being of global society. Even the Arab nations in conflict with Israel are not going to do this. Political games, yes, are played by all...Israel included. But this is an entirely different matter which you might not be able to see. If you've read my posts here, you might have noticed that I am a frequent critic (not hater) of Israel and her policies. When was the last time you publicly criticized Iran over their treatment of Bahais? Your response to all is welcome.
If the arab states have any real manhood to them left - they should never allow an Israeli to step foot in any arab state, unless he is a Palestinian Israeli. The Jews are universally hated by arab, Muslim, Christians and Atheist for that matter - why are they even allowed to enter the arab lands? Very strange indeed - I mean the Christians just liquidated the bulk of their Jewry in the last century -
terror. So, Durson what's your point. That people shouldn't criticise Hitler because others with mustaches are not criticized?
So your telling us that the iranians couldn't even manage to build their own sewer system with out your help?? Gee,I kinda wonder how persia managed to make the QANNATS and it's own sewer systems back in history(when israel wasn't around). Just who are you trying to fool here??True you had agricultural and defense ties with the former iranian regime,but that just about it. I bet in a few years to come you would actually claim iran/persia was built thnx to the jews.
IRAN.Good 4 U.! Stay in the Black Ages. By the way. Do Iranians also believe in the 72 Virgins ? And if so are there any Iranian Virgins ! (Don't make us laff) How many of them are Iranians ? And is an Arab who blows himself up,allowed to go to the Iranian one,or does he first have to get petmission through an Iranian Pimp before he takes one of the Virgins ! These are very tricky questions. Better ask your Mullahs !
Iran does not seem to understand that its neigbors in the middle east are not really intersted to fall under Iran's influence.
I referred to Iran, the proud, non-Arab convert to Islam whose disingenuous, religious leadership now equates itself to G-d by condemning all that oppose its tyranny as ones that are challenging Him alone and therefore deserve to die. Khan is a great boxer but orthodox Jewry didn't convert to Islam just because he won handily as they know the power of the G-d of Israel when all is said and done, even after whatever ominous wishes against the Jewish State emanate from Tehran.
...any time any critic of Israel speaks at a school or gathering or is given any official courtesies.
Amir is BRITISH born, and raised in Bolton. How on earth does this have anything to do with Iranian cry-babys who are scared to face Israeli athletes.
I referred to Iran, the proud, non-Arab convert to Islam whose disingenuous, religious leadership now equates itself to G-d by condemning all that oppose its tyranny as ones that are challenging Him alone and therefore deserve to die. Khan is a great boxer but orthodox Jewry didn't convert to Islam just because he won handily as they know the power of the G-d of Israel when all is said and done, even after whatever ominous wishes against the Jewish State emanate from Tehran.
You probably don't know but it is worth noting that: not all Jews are Israeli and there are Israelis who are not Jewish.
"See Amir Khan,muslim boxer destroyed the face of israeli boxer in one round." You have to remember Siad, It's the Religion of PEACE, not "PIECES"
See Amir Khan,muslim boxer destroyed the face of israeli boxer in one round,what are you talking?
between Israel and the Arab world. The arab world has alot to gain in normal relations with Israel and everything to lose without normal relations.
Pretending to have a military nuclear program when you haven't, is like pretending not to have a military nuclear program while refusing to prove it, and it is like having a military nuclear program. In the domain of military deternce, make-believe is similar to the real thing, both ways. It deters ennemies as well as it creates ennemies. Iran is plotting against itself.
... refuse to compete with their Israeli counterparts in international matches and then lie about it (I.E. failed to make weight, etc.). Iran treats it like its a competition to the death between Islam and Judaism and they're scared of being shown up and their religion disgraced it seems. Khatami, the religious, disingenuous scoundrel should stick to learning about G-d properly first and leave sophisticated topics like discussions on renewable energy R&D to the experts. The former Israeli civil engineering team during the Shah's time probably constructed the very sewage system and pipes currently running under Khatami's toilet in Tehran.
In fact many of these States use Israeli technology at their respective airports. One can bet that the regime in Tehran is totally pissed off. Guess many of those agents provocateur from Iran have to travel overland by camel train. Good day from snowy Swiss Alps.
Too bad if Iran is pissed at another Gulf State allowing Israel participation in an important meeting. "Minister Uzi Landau said on Sunday he did not meet with any U.A.E. officials while attending a conference of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), based in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi." - Haaretz The scary secret that none with to talk about is that reservoir pressures in the entire gulf region are dropping - fast. . . This weeks Aviation Week and Space Technology's major article on page 12 describes the Qatar Airways synthetic fuel program. . . The project involves Qatar Petroleum, and the goal is to convert renewable biomass into jet fuel. The USAF has a similar project underway. The entire region knows that sooner than anyone except a few want to think, they - and the world - will have to depend upon renewable resources. p.s. The UAE has a $20 billion dollar contract with South Korea for 4 nuclear power plants.
Why be surprised . This is one announced incident. The real question is how many unannounced visits the israeli intelligence made ,based on the invitation by the arab countries against any threat from neighboring countries ?