Netanyahu Slams News Outlet for 'Endangering Lives' With Secret Trip Report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted a secret diplomatic visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed. Netanyahu reportedly flew to the Emirates in the morning and returned in the evening, with the Iranian threat being a primary focus of the discussions.

The initial report about the clandestine meeting emerged on Channel 12's "Avri and Serki" program, where the network's diplomatic correspondent detailed the behind-the-scenes process of the publication. The correspondent, Yaron Avraham, stated that they waited for Netanyahu to land before releasing the story, expressing concern about publishing while the Prime Minister was still airborne.

However, the Prime Minister's office is reportedly furious with Channel 12's reporting. Sources in the Prime Minister's office claim that the report was published despite the military censor having initially forbidden its release, accusing the news outlet of violating censorship laws and "endangering lives."

Channel 12 has refuted these claims, asserting that the report was only broadcast after Netanyahu had already returned to Israel. They clarified that the story was not aired at the start of their broadcast but closer to 10 PM, by which time the Prime Minister's plane was on the ground, thus posing no danger. The network also argued that the story, concerning a secret visit during a critical political juncture, was not a matter for military censorship.

Avraham had previously linked the caution surrounding the report to existing threats against senior Israeli officials, mentioning "accumulating threats" and Iranian intentions to harm them.