Netanyahu Asked UAE President to Deny Pre-Oct. 7 Warning Reports

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly asked United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed to publicly deny claims that he had warned Netanyahu before the October 7th Hamas attacks. The request was made during a meeting between the two leaders on Sunday, according to an AP report. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the report, but also did not issue a denial, unlike in a previous instance. A ministry spokesperson stated that bin Zayed "maintains open and direct communication lines with Israel and shares all relevant intelligence."

Netanyahu's unannounced, clandestine trip to Abu Dhabi on Sunday involved a roughly four-hour meeting with bin Zayed. The prime minister reportedly traveled on a private jet that is occasionally used for secret diplomatic missions. This meeting occurred despite bin Zayed's general avoidance of political meetings with leaders during election periods to remain neutral. The ongoing controversy surrounding the alleged UAE warning prior to October 7th also presented a potentially awkward backdrop for the diplomatic encounter.