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. While the Iranian threat was a central topic, no official information was released regarding other subjects discussed. The meeting took place against the backdrop of recent reports about a warning call from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to Netanyahu prior to the October 7th Hamas attack.

According to a report in Haaretz, the UAE President had warned Netanyahu that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a significant move against Israel. This conversation, reportedly lasting 45 minutes, saw Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed express concerns that the action would lead to bloodshed, destabilize the region, and potentially harm the Abraham Accords. The report also indicated that Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed urged Netanyahu to act on the information provided, 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 a renewed engagement between the two leaders, with the Iranian threat as a primary focus.