Moral scandal hits Israeli ambassador to UAE; Shelley on verge of expulsion.
According to reports in the Israeli media, Yossi Shelley, the Israeli ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, will soon be dismissed from his post due to inappropriate behavior at a nightclub in Abu Dhabi.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Shelley, who was previously the chief of staff to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, behaved “disrespectfully” during a night out with friends at a bar in Abu Dhabi a few months ago.
The behavior angered the UAE government, which has protested to Israel through unofficial channels. According to reports, Shelley’s behavior was so inappropriate that, according to informed sources, he “violated the boundaries of personal space” and damaged the UAE’s reputation.
Shelley’s bodyguards, who witnessed the incident, reported the matter to higher authorities. However, the exact details of the incident, which was kept secret from the media for months, remain unclear, and it is unclear whether there is any evidence.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has denied the reports, saying that Netanyahu has not made a decision to return Shelley to the occupied Palestinian territory, but Netanyahu’s aides are reportedly considering a new role for Shelley after his diplomatic mission ends.
Shelley issued a statement last week saying he had been made aware of his behavior, which the Emiratis considered disrespectful. He stressed that the incident occurred at a private event and was unrelated to his diplomatic duties.
An Emirati source close to the government told Channel 12: “This behavior was unbecoming of someone who should be a symbol of the growing relationship between the two countries.”
He added that if Shelley were not an ambassador, the UAE would likely have ordered his expulsion. The UAE established formal relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the US-brokered compromise known as the Abraham Accords.
The country has maintained ties with the Israeli regime despite its crimes in Gaza.