Netanyahu map shows RSF 'friendly' to Israel and UAE, backing for separatist movements

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently unveiled a map of the Middle East that highlights his country and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as aligned with a paramilitary group in Sudan known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF, accused of committing genocide in Darfur, is led by former Janjaweed leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. While the map did not surprise regional observers, it may prove awkward for some of Israel's partners and strengthen suspicions among Arab states.

The map, produced in collaboration with Germany's Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Institute, also shows Israel and the UAE as part of a broader "Hexagon Alliance," alongside Greece, Ethiopia, and parts of India. However, the map also designates a large area of southwestern Sudan as friendly to both the UAE and Israel.

The RSF controls the southwestern region of Sudan. UN experts and numerous media reports, including from Middle East Eye, have reported on the UAE's substantial support for the RSF. The UAE has denied these allegations officially. Additionally, Netanyahu unveiled a new security doctrine on Sunday, emphasizing preemptive strikes and the establishment of buffer zones on Israel's borders.