According to a Palestinian official on Wednesday, Palestine has disapproved the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s membership via veto in the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF).
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that Palestine used the veto in contradiction of Israel’s initially proposed UAE membership to join the EMGF,”.
The founding members of the EMGF are Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Italy, Israel and the Greek Cypriot administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC).
The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum said on Tuesday that the EMGF accepted France’s appeal to join the forum as a member and the US as an observer. However, the ministry made no reference of the Palestinian veto of the UAE membership. Also, the Emirati authorities are also silent on the issue. The Israeli Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz announced on Sept. 24 that his country has suggested the UAE’s inclusion to the gas forum.
Israel and the UAE have contracted numerous energy agreements subsequent of a US-sponsored agreement to normalize their relationships.
