Report: UAE Orchestrates Delegation of European Imams to Israel to Promote Normalization Amid Gaza War

In a deeply controversial move amid Israel’s ongoing military aggression on Gaza, a delegation of European imams — led by French Imam Hassan Chalghoumi — visited Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Jerusalem last week. The visit, facilitated by Emirati-linked organizations, has ignited a firestorm of criticism among Muslim communities and human rights advocates who view it as a blatant attempt to normalize Israeli apartheid under religious pretenses.

An Orchestrated Display of Praise

During the visit, Chalghoumi delivered effusive praise to Herzog, telling the Israeli president: “You represent the world of brotherhood, the world of humanity, the world of love, the world of democracy, the world of compassion.”

These remarks, which come at a time when human rights organizations are accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, have been condemned as tone-deaf and insulting to Palestinians enduring daily bombardment, siege, and starvation.

The delegation included imams from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Britain. The timing of their visit — as Israel stands accused of war crimes — suggests that this was not an innocent interfaith dialogue, but part of a broader political project.

The UAE’s Hidden Hand

Sources consulted by Dark Box reveal that the visit was quietly organized and financed by UAE-affiliated institutions, part of Abu Dhabi’s well-documented strategy to position itself as the leader of a “moderate Islam” that aligns with Western and Israeli interests.

By cultivating imams in Europe who are willing to publicly embrace Israel, the UAE is expanding its normalization strategy far beyond formal diplomacy and trade agreements.

Abu Dhabi’s goal is clear: to pacify Muslim communities abroad, weaken support for Palestinian resistance, and paint the UAE’s normalization with Israel as a model for others.

A Network of Influence

Many of the imams involved in the visit have ties to Emirati-funded mosques and organizations in Europe, providing Abu Dhabi a soft-power tool to shape discourse on Islam’s relationship with Israel and Palestine.

Human rights activists describe this strategy as “spiritual normalization” — using religious leaders to defuse anger over Israeli occupation and present coexistence as an unquestionable moral imperative.

Backlash from Muslim Communities

Critics point out the hypocrisy of this campaign: while Emirati and Israeli officials promote interfaith dialogue and religious coexistence, Israel continues to demolish mosques in Gaza and kill Palestinian worshipers.

The timing — as Gaza’s humanitarian crisis worsens — has led to widespread outrage, with some accusing Chalghoumi and others of selling out their faith for political expediency.

Conclusion: The New Face of Normalization

The UAE’s facilitation of this imam delegation marks an evolution in normalization tactics. No longer confined to government summits and business deals, the strategy now involves co-opting religious figures in Europe to whitewash Israel’s crimes.

It is a transnational campaign of influence that seeks to remake the narrative on Palestine — and to suppress Muslim solidarity with Palestinians under the guise of interfaith harmony.

Dark Box will continue to investigate these networks and expose how Emirati-Israeli alliances exploit religion to normalize apartheid.