Yameen Questions Whether Maldivians Would Live Alongside Israeli Families in Rasmalé

Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has criticised the Government’s agreement with UAE-based developer Eagle Hills for the Rasmalé project, questioning whether Maldivians would choose to live alongside Israeli families if they were settled there.

Speaking at a meeting of the People’s National Front (PNF), Yameen claimed that Eagle Hills intends to facilitate the settlement of Jewish people in Rasmalé and argued that doing so could pose security risks to the Maldives.

Yameen also accused President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Abdulla Muththalib and Attorney General Ahmed Usham of criminal conduct in connection with the transaction.

Referring to comments attributed to Eagle Hills founder Mohamed Alabbar, Yameen said Alabbar had previously spoken about building closer relationships between Israelis and Muslims, including fostering relationships between their children.

Yameen questioned whether Maldivians would choose to live alongside Israeli families if they were settled in Rasmalé. He also referred to attacks against Jewish people in other countries and argued that the settlement of Israeli families in the Maldives could create security concerns.

However, in response to Israel’s genocide in Palestine, the Maldives enacted amendments to the Immigration Act banning entry on Israeli passports. The final legislation ratified by President Muizzu applied strictly to primary Israeli travel documents and did not prohibit entry to individuals holding dual nationality with passports from other foreign nations.

Yameen said the Maldives’ heavy dependence on tourism could make the country particularly vulnerable to any security incident associated with the project.

Yameen further criticised what he described as a contradiction between the Government’s support for Palestinian rights and its handling of the Rasmalé development. He referred to Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef’s statements in support of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly and President Muizzu’s public support for Palestinian rights.

He questioned how those positions could be reconciled with an agreement that, according to his claims, would facilitate the settlement of Jewish people on land near Malé.

Yameen also argued that decisions concerning Rasmalé should comply with constitutional principles and called for a public referendum before the land is handed over for development.

During the 2018 presidential campaign, Yameen’s own administration had announced “Villimalé 2”, a housing initiative aimed at accommodating a population of 300,000 across 800 hectares of reclaimed land at Fushidhiggaru Lagoon.