Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, meeting with the country's president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, according to an Israeli source familiar with the visit. The source revealed that Iran dominated the agenda, an area where the two countries have deepened their cooperation. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office did not confirm the visit, fueling speculation and controversy.
The rare trip comes exactly one month before Israel's October 27 election, amidst heightened political controversy in Israel. Recent reports alleged that Bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu of a major Hamas operation days before the October 7, 2023, attack. Netanyahu's office has repeatedly denied receiving any warning, dismissing the reports as fabricated lies aimed at damaging him electorally. His rivals have used the allegations to make accountability for the failure to prevent the attack a central campaign issue.
The UAE's Foreign Ministry earlier stated that it "does not comment on media stories or speculation regarding conversations between government leaders," but did not deny the call. An Israeli source familiar with the matter said Netanyahu's office tried to get the UAE to deny the report, but the UAE only agreed to issue a statement about intelligence sharing. This development has sparked renewed tensions between Netanyahu's office and his rivals.
Netanyahu's Likud party issued a statement alleging "blatant foreign interference" in Israel's elections by UAE-based Palestinian politician Mohammed Dahlan, although no evidence was provided. His rivals, including Gadi Eizenkot, have seized on the reported warning to renew their attacks on his handling of the events preceding October 7. Eizenkot stated that the revelation "leaves no room for doubt: Netanyahu led, with blindness, arrogance and irresponsibility, the State of Israel to the greatest disaster in its history."
In May, Netanyahu's office claimed that the prime minister had secretly visited the UAE in March, during the early days of the Iran war, calling it a "historic breakthrough." However, the UAE foreign ministry denied his claim at the time as "completely unfounded." During the war, Israel deployed an Iron Dome missile defense system to the UAE, and Israeli officials reported that security cooperation between the two countries reached unprecedented levels.
Netanyahu has never made a publicly acknowledged official visit to the UAE. His office has been tight-lipped about the recent visit, sparking questions about the nature and purpose of the trip. The development has raised concerns about the potential implications for Israel's relationships with the UAE and other regional countries.
The controversy surrounding Netanyahu's visit and the allegations about the warning from Bin Zayed are likely to continue to play a significant role in Israel's upcoming elections. Netanyahu's rivals will likely continue to press for accountability, while his office will likely maintain its denials and counter-accusations. The situation remains a sensitive and rapidly evolving issue in Israeli politics.
Key points
- Netanyahu's secret visit to the UAE has sparked controversy amidst Israel's election.
- The visit and allegations about a warning from Bin Zayed have been used to attack Netanyahu's handling of events preceding the October 7, 2023, attack.
- The development has raised concerns about the implications for Israel's relationships with the UAE and other regional countries.
