UAE tycoon secretly contributes to Israel food initiative

Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties, gestures while speaking during a Bloomberg Television interview in London, UK on 12 March 2018 [Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

The National Food Security Initiative conference held last week in Tel Aviv revealed the names of five donors who have funded a food security programme, including United Arab Emirates (UAE) tycoon Mohamed Alabbar.

Hebrew daily business newspaper Calcalist reported on Thursday that the five donors had funded assistance to thousands of hungry families worth NIS 550 million for the past 18 years.

The names included Moti Ben Moshe, Len Belvatnik and Alabbar, the owner of Emaar Properties, which owns the famous Burj Khalifa, the highest tower in the world.

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For 18 years, donors have been careful not to be exposed. The unveiling was planned for early 2020, but COVID-19 postponed it to last Monday.

According to Calcalist, the most surprising partner to join the Israeli initiative in 2018 was Alabbar.

Calcalist pointed out that Alabbar had joined long before the peace deals reached between Israel and a number of Arab states, including the UAE.

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