Likud Lawmaker Predicts 35 Seats Amid Netanyahu UAE Warning Controversy

Member of Knesset Avichai Boaron, ranked 35th on the Likud party list for upcoming elections, predicted on Thursday that the Likud party will secure 35 Knesset seats. Boaron attributed this potential success to the public's trust in the party's security achievements, stating, "The public will place their trust in us when they see what we have done on the security level."

This prediction comes amidst controversy surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's alleged prior knowledge of an impending Hamas attack. A report in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz claimed that Netanyahu received a warning from the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, before October 7th, indicating that Hamas leader Sinwar was planning a significant operation. Netanyahu's office has denied these claims, though some observers noted the denial was not absolute.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued its first official statement regarding the report, acknowledging ongoing communication channels with Israel but not explicitly denying the conversation about a potential Hamas move. The statement emphasized the UAE's consistent efforts since October 7th towards de-escalation, regional stability, and preventing violence, adding that relevant intelligence is shared between the two nations when necessary.

In contrast, Netanyahu's office released an English denial asserting that the media reports were incorrect and that no warning was issued by the UAE to the Prime Minister prior to October 7th. They reiterated that any relevant information would have been shared through established intelligence channels.