UAE police chief's call to cement Israeli ties sparks outrage across Arab world
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan, Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, has sparked controversy with statements urging Persian Gulf Arab nations to strengthen their relations with Israel, amid escalating US-Israeli adventurism in West Asia.
His comments, shared via the social media platform X, come as the region grapples with the ongoing war of terrorism by the United States and Israel against Iran.
Khalfan suggested that Arab nations in the Persian Gulf should look beyond the traditional regional alliances, asserting that the countries of the region were not aligned with Arab sentiments.
“O people of the [Persian] Gulf Arab, strengthen cooperation with Israel… There is no good in the countries of the region at all,” he posted.
In a subsequent outrageous tweet, Khalfan claimed the American and Israeli attacks on Iran were designed to "eliminate the machines of destruction manufactured for Persian hegemony over the region," calling the West "the friendly nations."
In a third post, Khalfan criticized the Arab League, claiming it had failed to represent Arab interests, especially in light of its stance towards Iran.
"It is a disgrace for the Persian Gulf countries to remain in a university that calls itself an Arab League… while it does not have Arab sentiments," he wrote, adding, "it sympathizes with the Persians."
Khalfan's remarks have sparked strong backlash across the Arab world, with many social media users condemning his stance.
Critics argue that Israel, an occupying power in Palestine, represents a major threat to Persian Gulf Arab security and regional stability. One commentator described Israel’s "Greater Israel" ambitions as the "greatest threat" to the Persian Gulf.
The controversy comes amid rising tensions in the region, particularly following an Israeli-U.S. military aggression against Iran.
In late February, Israel and the US targeted Iranian leaders as well as its military and civilian infrastructure, while Iranian forces retaliated with missile and drone strikes aimed at Israeli-occupied territories and US military bases in the region.
Iran has defended its response as legitimate self-defense, citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and maintains that it has the legal right to protect itself from acts of aggression by Israel and the United States.
Khalfan’s statements highlight the deepening divisions within the Arab world over how to address the ongoing US-Israeli colonial war with some Persian Gulf states, like the UAE, seeking closer ties with Israel, while others remain committed to opposing Israeli policies.
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