MOBILE DEVICES
Free Headline Alerts     
Worldwide Web WorldTribune.com

  breaking... 


Thursday, July 29, 2010     GET REAL

Report: Israeli diplomat coaching exiled sheik
on taking power in UAE

LONDON — Israel was said to have been advising an exiled Gulf sheik on how to seize power in the United Arab Emirates.

ShareThis

A senior Israeli diplomat has met the exiled crown prince of Ras Al Khaimeh, one of the seven emirates in the UAE. The diplomat, Israeli ambassador to Britain Ron Prosor, met the exiled prince, Khaled Bin Saqer Al Qasimi, in March 2010 in what was described as a strategy session on how to succeed his ailing father.

"His Highness very much enjoyed his meeting with the ambassador," an e-mail sent to Prosor from a representative of Khaled said.


Also In This Edition


The British newspaper Guardian has gained access to e-mails and other records of the relationship between Prosor and Khaled. In 2003, Khaled was exiled from Ras Al Khaimeh by his father, Saqer, and brother Saud. Over the last few weeks, the 92-year-old Saqer has been in an Abu Dhabi hospital in a condition described as critical.

"It [Israeli help to the UAE emirate] is the first of its kind and I am betting on it being successful," Christopher Davidson, an analyst on the UAE at Durham University, told the Guardian. "I think by the end of the summer we will have a verdict."

The Israeli embassy has not responded to the Guardian report. But Khaled, now based in London, said through a spokesman that he was meeting with foreigners in an effort to block the flow of dual-use components through the UAE to Iran. Ral Al Khaimeh has been cited as a smuggling route to Iran.

"There is significant interest in the current RAK regime's relationship to Iran, particularly in the context of trying to stop the flow of arms, goods and technology from going through RAK to the Islamic republic [of Iran]," Peter Ragone, a spokesman for Khaled, said.

Ragone said Khaled has been in contact with several countries including the United States. The spokesman said Khaled's aides were in Washington this week to meet U.S. foreign policy planners.

The Guardian said Prosor has advised Khaled to lobby Western powers to support his campaign to take over Ras Al Khaimeh. The newspaper, quoting from notes and e-mails, said Khaled has promised that as leader he would stop the illegal flow of goods to Iran.

"[Prosor] is working with certain people from his side [and] promised that the matter will be solved in his [the sheik's] favor," a note by an aide to Khaled said.



About Us     l    Contact Us     l    Geostrategy-Direct.com     l    East-Asia-Intel.com
Copyright © 2010    East West Services, Inc.    All rights reserved.