Amid Tensions With Iran, Israeli PM Netanyahu Lands In UAE For Secret Meeting With President

Abu Dhabi: Amidst the ongoing tension in West Asia, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suddenly visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Here he met Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to Israeli media reports, the visit was not made public in advance. A senior Israeli official has also confirmed Netanyahu's arrival in Abu Dhabi and meeting with the UAE President. 

Why did Netanyahu and UAE President meet?

No official statement was immediately issued by both sides regarding the agenda of the meeting. According to reports, Netanyahu travelled to Abu Dhabi on a private plane and spent a large part of the day in talks with the UAE president. This visit has taken place at a time when many important issues regarding relations and regional security between the two countries are under discussion. 

What warning did UAE give before October 7?

Netanyahu's visit comes at a time when a Haaretz report published in early September claimed that the UAE President had spoken to Netanyahu on the phone about a week and a half before the October 7, 2023 attack. According to the report, in this conversation a warning was given by the then leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, about preparing for a major attack.

The report claimed that the conversation lasted about 45 minutes and the UAE President expressed fear that the possible attack could create regional instability. However, controversy remains regarding these claims.

What did Netanyahu say in the report?

Benjamin Netanyahu's office rejected the Haaretz report. His office said that no such warning was given by the UAE to the Prime Minister before October 7. He says that if there was any relevant intelligence, it would have been shared through intelligence channels between the two countries.

The UAE has also not confirmed or denied this particular conversation. However, the UAE has said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020, there has been constant contact on many issues including national security.

Has Netanyahu held a secret meeting in UAE before?

This is not the first time that news of confidential talks between Netanyahu and the UAE leadership has come to light. Even before this, reports of a secret meeting between the two leaders had come out, which was not initially publicly acknowledged by the UAE.

Israel and the UAE established formal diplomatic relations under the Abraham Accords in 2020. After this, contacts between the two countries have increased in trade, security and diplomatic matters.

What is the impact on Israeli politics?

Political debate is intensifying in Israel regarding the alleged security signals found before the October 7, 2023 attack. After Haaretz's report, opposition leaders have raised questions in this matter and demanded an investigation into the incident. On the other hand, Netanyahu has rejected the allegations made in the report. 

In such a situation, Netanyahu's sudden visit to Abu Dhabi and his meeting with the UAE President are attracting special attention. However, official information about whether the alleged intelligence alert related to October 7 was discussed in the conversation between the two leaders has not been revealed yet.