After UAE normalizes relations with Israel, PA Grand Mufti resigns from Peace Forum in Abu Dhabi

Headline: “The [PA] grand mufti tenders his resignation from the board of governors of the Forum for Promoting Peace [in Muslim Societies] in Abu Dhabi”

“[PA] Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories and preacher at the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Muhammad Hussein tendered his resignation from the board of governors of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies in Abu Dhabi.

In a statement to the press, Sheikh Hussein explained that the reason for his resignation is the fact that the aforementioned board of governors held its tenth meeting on [the video conferencing application] Zoom on Aug. 15 [2020], and issued a statement praising the UAE’s decision on normalization with the Israeli occupation authorities (see note below –Ed.).

He said: ‘This normalization is a knife in the back of the Palestinian people and the Arab and Islamic peoples, and an abandoning of the sites that are holy to Islam and Christianity in Jerusalem.’”

Muhammad Hussein also serves as Deputy Secretary-General and acting Secretary-General of the PLO Popular National Conference of Jerusalem.

Israel-UAE peace agreement (Abraham Accords) – an agreement normalizing diplomatic ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was announced on Aug. 13, 2020, under the mediation of US President Donald Trump. Pursuant to the agreement, the countries will discuss bilateral cooperation on a number of topics. In exchange for the agreement, Israel agreed to suspend its previously announced plans to apply Israel's civilian law to parts of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley as per the Trump peace plan. The US announced that “Muslims throughout the world who wish to come in peace to pray at the Al Aqsa Mosque, will now be able to fly to Tel Aviv through Abu Dhabi to do so and will be welcomed.”