On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to Abu Dhabi, during which he met with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in a mostly solitary meeting that lasted several hours before his return to Israel the same evening.
A report prepared by journalists Yaron Abraham and Barak Ravid and broadcast by Israeli Channel 12 stated that Netanyahu and his accompanying delegation went to the Emirates on a private plane and used several planes to keep the visit completely secret, while the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to provide any details regarding the contents of the discussions.
This visit is extremely sensitive because it coincides with a crucial time just one month before the Israeli elections, and a few days after Netanyahu’s return from the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York, in addition to being confused by a wide political and security controversy surrounding previous reports.
In this context, the visit comes in the wake of what Haaretz newspaper revealed at the beginning of this September, regarding a 45-minute phone call that took place between Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Netanyahu prior to the attack on October 7, 2023. The Emirati President warned the Israeli Prime Minister of a plan by the leader of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, to carry out a large-scale movement, urging him to take action to confront the threat, expressing his fears of the repercussions of this on the blood of civilians, the stability of the region, and the future of the “Abraham Accords.” The Emirati side did not issue any official denial of the validity of this contact, while other officials confirmed it.
It is noteworthy that this visit is not the first of its kind to raise diplomatic controversy. Last May, Netanyahu’s office announced another secret visit he made to the UAE during the “Lion’s Roar” war, describing it as “historic,” while Channel 12 reported that its disclosure came against the wishes of Abu Dhabi, which led to tensions in bilateral relations.
In light of the strict secrecy imposed by the Israeli side on Sunday’s visit, its sensitive electoral timing, and the shadow of the warning call that preceded the events of October 7, the details of the closed talks between Netanyahu and Bin Zayed remain locked in locked rooms amid an official refusal to comment.
