President Herzog Clarifies UAE President's Call Ahead of October 7

Israeli President Isaac Herzog clarified the nature of a conversation he had with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ), stating it was not a warning related to the events preceding the October 7th Hamas attack. The clarification came in response to a Haaretz newspaper report alleging that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a warning call from MBZ in the days before October 7th, and that Herzog also spoke with the UAE President.

Hersog explained that his conversation with MBZ occurred several months prior to October 7th. During that discussion, MBZ expressed concern about the internal legal disputes and protests then engulfing Israeli society. "Your attempts to manage dialogue and mediation at the President's Residence are saving your country, and this is important to us, because we are your partners in the Abraham Accords," MBZ reportedly told Herzog. Herzog emphasized that this was the entirety of the message, and there was no additional warning.

The President's clarification aimed to distinguish his conversation from any potential warning given to Netanyahu, which he noted was the core of the Haaretz report's controversy. Herzog had previously issued a denial regarding receiving any warning. The full interview is scheduled to air on Kan News on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 7:50 PM.

Separately, the article mentions Netanyahu's threat to sue Haaretz over the report, calling it a "false fabrication with political timing." It also notes Herzog's prior warning about threats to election integrity presented by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.