Netanyahu Reportedly Held Secret Meeting with Libyan Commander in UAE

Italian newspaper "La Foglià" reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting with Libyan Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar during his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates. Haftar, the commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the de facto ruler of eastern and southern Libya, reportedly met with Netanyahu while the Israeli prime minister was in the UAE. Data from FlightRadar indicates a government plane from Libya landed in the UAE during Netanyahu's stay, which could corroborate the report of a Libyan presence, though it does not confirm a meeting.

This alleged encounter follows a reported meeting between Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, which was revealed by Israeli news outlet Channel 12. The details of the Netanyahu-bin Zayed meeting, including its duration and specific topics beyond the Iranian threat, were not officially disclosed. The timing of the Channel 12 report, released while Netanyahu's plane was en route back to Israel, caused controversy.

The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) filed a complaint with the chief military censor against the media outlet, alleging a severe censorship violation that endangered the prime minister, his wife, entourage, and security forces. The Shin Bet also stated the publication exposed operational methods and could jeopardize future operations. The Mossad (Israel's national intelligence agency) also deemed the reporting a serious security threat.

As of now, the Italian report regarding the meeting between Netanyahu and Haftar has not received official confirmation from Israel.