UAE Declines to Deny Netanyahu's Pre-Oct. 7 Warning

The United Arab Emirates has declined to explicitly deny reports that its leader warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about an impending major attack before October 7, 2023. In its first official comment, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday that the government "does not comment on media reports or speculation regarding discussions between government leaders." This statement came after Israeli media reported attempts by Netanyahu's associates to pressure Abu Dhabi into issuing a denial. The UAE's response did not refute the content of the report or the existence of communication, instead opting to abstain from commenting on leader-level discussions.

The UAE Foreign Ministry added that since October 7, the UAE's efforts have focused on de-escalation, regional stability, and reducing violence. It emphasized that government entities in both the UAE and Israel have maintained open communication channels since relations began over five years ago, and that relevant intelligence information continues to be exchanged when necessary.

Concurrently, Netanyahu's office issued a statement in English calling the press reports "false" and asserting that the Prime Minister "did not receive any warning from the UAE before October 7." However, the statement added, "If any relevant information existed, it was transferred through intelligence channels between the two countries." This phrasing is significant, as it differs from a previous, more definitive denial from Netanyahu's office that stated he had not spoken with the UAE president or received any warning.

The current statement avoids denying a conversation occurred, only denying a direct "warning" from the UAE, while acknowledging the possibility of "relevant information" being shared via intelligence channels. This comes amid Netanyahu's ongoing efforts to shift blame for the October 7 failures onto the security leadership.

A report by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, based on an upcoming book, claimed that UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had a secret 45-minute call with Netanyahu about a week and a half before October 7. During the call, bin Zayed reportedly warned that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a "major move" and an "unprecedented surprise." The report also stated that the information reached the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) separately, and its then-director, Ronen Bar, discussed Sinwar's threats with Netanyahu.

The report sparked political turmoil in Israel, with opposition leaders demanding an investigation into the alleged warnings Netanyahu ignored. Former Israeli officials have offered conflicting accounts, with former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi stating they were not informed of any warning from the UAE president. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, however, confirmed the report's veracity and held Netanyahu responsible for the failures.