Netanyahu Makes Secret Visit to UAE for Talks on Iran Threat

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a discreet diplomatic visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The visit, which began in the morning and concluded in the evening with Netanyahu's return to Israel, focused on the Iranian threat. According to N12, the trip was kept highly secret, with Netanyahu and his entourage traveling on multiple aircraft, including a private jet. The meeting between the two leaders was largely held in private.

The Prime Minister's office declined to provide further details about the visit's content. This meeting occurs just a month before Israeli elections and two days after Netanyahu's return from addressing the UN General Assembly in New York. Notably, the UAE was among the countries that did not walk out during Netanyahu's UN speech.

This is not Netanyahu's first visit to the UAE this year. He previously visited in May during the conflict with Iran, a visit that the UAE also requested remain confidential. A previous trip led to a diplomatic rift after Netanyahu's office announced it, despite Abu Dhabi's insistence on secrecy. Yaron Avraham of Channel 12 reported that the decision to publicize that earlier visit may have been politically motivated.

According to the report, Netanyahu learned on Thursday that former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was also expected to visit the Emirates and meet with bin Zayed and senior Emirati officials. Sources cited in the report suggest Netanyahu's office feared Bennett's visit would be publicized while Netanyahu's remained secret. The Prime Minister's office has denied these details.