Netanyahu Makes Secret Visit to UAE Amid Iran Threat

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a secret visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Netanyahu reportedly traveled on a private jet and returned to Israel the same evening. While two sources confirmed the meeting, the Prime Minister's Office declined to provide details about its agenda or duration. The visit, occurring just a month before elections and two days after Netanyahu's return from the UN General Assembly in New York, focused on the Iranian threat.

According to reports, Netanyahu and his entourage arrived in the UAE on several aircraft, with the majority of the discussion between the two leaders taking place privately. Although the Iranian threat was a central topic, no official information was released regarding other subjects discussed. The Prime Minister's Office also chose not to comment on specifics of the conversation.

The meeting follows recent reports of a warning call from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to Netanyahu prior to the October 7th Hamas attack. According to Haaretz, the UAE president cautioned Netanyahu that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a significant move against Israel. This conversation, reportedly lasting 45 minutes, also saw bin Zayed express concerns that such an action could lead to bloodshed, destabilize the region, and damage the Abraham Accords. The report suggests bin Zayed urged Netanyahu to act on this intelligence, but the Prime Minister responded with relative calm.

While the UAE has not officially denied the prior warning call, other sources have confirmed its occurrence. The current secret meeting in Abu Dhabi marks another encounter between the two leaders, with the Iranian threat reportedly at the forefront.