Iran war drew Israel, Gulf States closer together, UAE Ambassador Shelly tells 'Post' - interview

"The Abraham Accords have been in place for nearly five and a half years, and the recent war with Iran - as well as the attacks experienced here in the UAE and across the Gulf - produced exactly the opposite outcome from what Iran had hoped. They wanted the Gulf states to distance themselves from Israel. In reality, they brought us closer together."

"We saw the Iranians attacking indiscriminately - homes, infrastructure, anything they could hit," he said. "Their goal was simply to cause damage. That reality requires joint defense efforts, and such cooperation is already taking place."

Having lived through years of rocket attacks in Israel, Shelley described what it was like to experience similar attacks in the Gulf.

"In Israel, we've become accustomed to a certain routine," he explained. "There's an alert, a siren, and you run to a shelter. Over the years, we've learned how to live with it. But here, it was completely new. People suddenly received alerts on their phones, and bomb shelters have never been part of daily life in the UAE."

He said many residents were stunned by the intensity of the attacks.

"Who would have imagined Iran attacking the UAE as if it were its greatest enemy?" he asked. "To the UAE authorities' credit, they regained control of the situation quickly and provided clear guidance. I believe they will now undertake serious work to improve civilian protection."

"Our relationship throughout the conflict was fantastic. We faced the same threats - ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilian buildings. We had effective defense systems, and that cooperation proved itself," he said. "Working together delivers results."

Despite the scale of the attacks, Shelley emphasized that the physical damage remained limited.

"It's truly remarkable," he said. "The damage was minimal considering the magnitude of the assault."

However, he warned that successful missile defense systems can create a false sense of security.

"When Americans told us, 'Why respond? Nobody was killed,' they overlooked something important," he said. "Nobody was killed because we built systems capable of protecting people. The consequences could have been catastrophic."

During the conflict, several senior Israeli officials visited the UAE, including Mossad Director David Barnea, Shin Bet Director David Zini, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While the Israeli Prime Minister's Office publicly confirmed one such visit, UAE authorities later issued a statement denying it - reportedly due to frustration over the visit being made public.

"In this case, I know that both sides are right," Shelley said without elaborating. "No one said anything inaccurate."

Although the UAE initially supported continued Israeli and American strikes against Iran, it later encouraged US President Donald Trump to pursue diplomacy and seek an agreement instead of prolonging military action.

Asked whether Israel was disappointed by the Gulf states' more cautious approach toward Iran, Shelley responded: "I'm not here to interpret the UAE's policies. Every country has its own interests. The countries in this region enjoyed decades of relative stability. Suddenly, they found themselves facing an entirely new security reality."

"Sometimes you begin with high expectations, but after several months, you realize the war isn't ending," he continued. "Common sense tells you to look for a compromise that allows people to continue living."

He added that Israeli society has also experienced growing war fatigue.

"Even in Israel, after nearly three years, you can see a change in public sentiment," he said. "Of course, we must protect our citizens, but at some point, people ask whether another path might exist. Everyone wants a quick solution, but reality doesn't always work that way."

Shelley said Israelis are gradually returning to the UAE.

"I'm beginning to see it," he said. "Businesspeople are returning to Abu Dhabi, and hotels are starting to fill up again."

"There are nearly 40 flights operating," he added, praising Etihad Airways. "They resumed operations almost immediately after the war."

"Throughout the fighting, they barely stopped flying. Only when drone attacks made flights impossible did they suspend operations."

"You could say they flew courageously between the missiles. That's part of both their resilience and ours, and it deserves recognition."

Shelley acknowledged that Iran continues attempting to target Israelis worldwide, including in the UAE.

"Based on what we know, Iran has plans to target Israelis wherever they are," he said.

Nevertheless, he expressed strong confidence in the UAE's security services.

"We trust the Emiratis," he said. "Aside from the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the overall sense of security here remains very good."

"You receive excellent security protection, and the fact that we receive real-time intelligence warnings demonstrates the quality of the intelligence cooperation."

He advised Israelis visiting the Gulf to exercise discretion.

"People ask me whether it's safe here," he said. "I tell them there's no place in the world that's 100 percent safe."

"You need to behave wisely. Don't draw attention to yourself. Don't be loud. Act like tourists, and you shouldn't have any problems."

Shelley also offered rare criticism of public statements made by Israeli politicians. Asked whether certain remarks damage relations with moderate Arab countries, he answered candidly: "Absolutely. In some cases, those statements do not help us."

"I recommend following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's example," he said. "Have you ever heard him speak disrespectfully?"

"He can be firm, but he always speaks respectfully. Politics and headline-grabbing statements should sometimes remain behind closed doors, especially when dealing with countries that are making every effort to maintain their relationship with Israel."

"You can complain in private," he concluded with a smile, "but not in public."

Despite ongoing regional tensions, Shelley remains optimistic about the future of Israel-UAE relations.

"There are business delegations, cybersecurity companies, startups, and research institutes continuing to work together," he said. "Soon, an Emirati delegation - including social media influencers - will visit Israel."

"September is already packed with conferences in Dubai," he added. "There's much more to come."