Netanyahu Met Libyan General's Son in Secret UAE Talks, Italian Report Claims

An Italian newspaper, "Il Foglio," has reported on a secret meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saddam Haftar, the son of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, during Netanyahu's recent visit to the United Arab Emirates. According to the report, Saddam Haftar landed in the UAE approximately twenty minutes after Netanyahu. This alleged meeting adds to previous reports over the years suggesting possible contacts between Israeli entities and Haftar's camp, including claims of Haftar's planes landing at Ben Gurion Airport in 2021.

Netanyahu's official visit to the UAE on Sunday was at the personal invitation of UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. The Prime Minister's office confirmed that his wife accompanied him and that the official agenda focused on strengthening strategic relations and addressing shared regional challenges. Senior security officials, including the National Security Advisor, Mossad chief, and military secretary, also attended the meeting with bin Zayed.

Simultaneously, the Associated Press reported that during his meeting with the UAE leader, Netanyahu requested bin Zayed deny a previous report suggesting he had warned Netanyahu of threats before the October 7th attack. Netanyahu has vehemently denied these reports, calling them "complete fake news" and stating the visit was solely about strengthening bilateral ties and regional challenges. The UAE's official news agency also confirmed the meeting with bin Zayed, emphasizing discussions on bilateral relations.

Libya has been in deep political paralysis since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi, with the country divided since 2014 between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli supported by Turkey and Qatar, and a rival administration in the east, effectively led by General Khalifa Haftar and supported by countries including Egypt, Russia, France, and the UAE.

The Shin Bet security agency has filed a complaint with the military censor regarding the publication of the alleged secret meeting, citing it as a serious censorship violation that endangered the Prime Minister's security and exposed operational methods. The agency stated that the timing of the publication put the Prime Minister, the operation, and forces in the field at risk.

The Italian report about the meeting with Saddam Haftar has not yet been corroborated by other sources.