Netanyahu Reportedly Held Secret Meeting with Libyan General's Son in UAE

Italian newspaper "Il Foglio" reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting with Saddam Haftar, son of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar and a powerful figure in eastern Libya, during his recent visit to the United Arab Emirates. According to the report, Haftar's plane landed in Abu Dhabi just 20 minutes after Netanyahu's arrival.

A former political advisor to Haftar's father, Mohammed Bouysir, claimed on X that the meeting's purpose was for Saddam Haftar to secure political support for his presidential ambitions in Libya. Bouysir suggested the timing of the arrivals at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi was highly precise, with Haftar's Airbus A319 arriving from Benghazi shortly after Netanyahu's plane. This alleged meeting is part of Haftar's broader strategy to gain international legitimacy and build connections with power centers in Jerusalem and Washington amid Libya's internal power struggles.

This is not the first reported connection between the Haftar family and Israel. In 2021, Haaretz reported on a plane linked to Saddam Haftar landing at Ben Gurion Airport for diplomatic contacts, and Israel Hayom revealed the family had engaged an Israeli consulting firm through Emirati mediation. The Italian newspaper suggests Haftar is also seeking meetings with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and has previously met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aiming to establish himself as an indispensable leader. Additionally, Haftar is reportedly attempting to connect with U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, a Trump associate, to gain American backing in the struggle for control of Libya's Waha Oil and Gas Company.

While the meeting with Haftar remains unconfirmed by any official parties, Netanyahu's official meeting with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed was confirmed. The Prime Minister's office stated their discussions focused on strengthening relations and regional challenges, with Israeli officials telling Reuters the six-hour talks primarily addressed the Iranian threat. Saddam Haftar, the eldest son of Khalifa Haftar who controls eastern Libya and its oil facilities, has intensified his diplomatic efforts, hiring the U.S. lobbying firm Ballard Partners in March to open doors in Washington.