Netanyahu Secretly Visits UAE, Meets President Bin Zayed Amid Iran Threat Discussions

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a brief, unannounced visit to Abu Dhabi on September 27th, meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Netanyahu departed from Ben Gurion Airport around noon on a private jet, arriving in Abu Dhabi by mid-afternoon and returning to Israel four hours later. The primary focus of their discussions was reportedly the threat posed by Iran, including US efforts to form a coalition against the Islamic Republic. Abu Dhabi has adopted a firm stance against Iran, halting trade and banning Iranian aircraft. This meeting occurred against the backdrop of strengthening Israel-UAE ties, exemplified by Israel's temporary provision of its Iron Dome missile defense system and operators to the UAE during a conflict, a gesture the UAE stated would not be forgotten.

The visit also comes amid reports, detailed in a new book by journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, alleging that Netanyahu received a specific warning about an impending Hamas operation from Palestinian Authority representatives via the UAE president just over a week before the October 7th attacks. According to Eldar, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar communicated a threat of a "big surprise" or "earthquake" if stalled negotiations over Israeli hostages were not advanced. This message was reportedly relayed to an advisor of President bin Zayed, who then allegedly conveyed it to Netanyahu via a secure app in a 45-minute call around September 15th. The New York Times also reported on this alleged conversation, citing sources familiar with the matter who confirmed the call and the warning of a potential large-scale attack by Hamas. However, Netanyahu has categorically denied such a conversation took place, and an Emirati source told The National that President bin Zayed did not warn Netanyahu prior to October 7th.