Netanyahu Met with Representatives from 10 Nations in UAE

A senior UAE official revealed that representatives from ten countries attended a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed during Netanyahu's recent visit to the United Arab Emirates. The countries included Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Morocco, Kuwait, Bahrain, Libya, Oman, and Egypt. The meeting occurred in two stages: first, a private session between Netanyahu and bin Zayed with only Israeli and Emirati officials, followed by a broader meeting with representatives from the other participating nations.

Netanyahu's unannounced visit took place on Sunday, with his wife accompanying him. The Prime Minister's office confirmed the meeting with the UAE president, stating that senior security officials, including the National Security Advisor, Mossad chief, and military secretary, were present. The official agenda focused on strengthening strategic relations and addressing shared regional challenges.

The visit followed reports that Netanyahu had urged bin Zayed to officially deny claims that the UAE leader had warned him of a potential Hamas attack before October 7th. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) filed a complaint with military censorship regarding a Channel 12 report about the secret visit, deeming it a severe censorship violation that endangered the Prime Minister and exposed operational methods. The complaint highlighted that the report was published after Netanyahu's plane had already departed Israeli airspace.

Netanyahu strongly refuted the reports, calling them "fake news" and asserting that the visit was solely about enhancing bilateral relations and regional challenges. The UAE's official news agency confirmed the meeting, emphasizing discussions on bilateral ties and deepening them.

Additionally, the Italian newspaper "Il Foglio" reported that Netanyahu also met with Saddam Haftar, son of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, during the visit. Haftar reportedly arrived in the UAE shortly after Netanyahu. The Prime Minister's office declined to provide details on this meeting.