UAE Cultivating Ties With Israeli Opposition Amidst Netanyahu's Strained Relations

The United Arab Emirates is reportedly forging quiet ties with senior figures in Israel's political opposition, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic engagement that appears to bypass Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. An Israeli diplomatic source revealed that Abu Dhabi is preparing for a post-Netanyahu era, showing a preference for his political rivals and expressing interest in former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.

Eisenkot, who now chairs the "Yisrael” party, is said to be receiving invitations for meetings from European, Arab, and Muslim countries. This follows earlier reports by the Jerusalem Post indicating that senior Arab officials have held discussions with Eisenkot's associates and are maintaining contact with former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Bennett was the first Israeli premier to make an official visit to the UAE in 2021, followed by Lapid in 2022, with both leaders meeting UAE leadership multiple times, unlike Netanyahu's recent, more reserved encounter.

Netanyahu reportedly pushed for his recent meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to be public, aiming to project an image of strong international ties. However, the meeting was nearly canceled, with the UAE allegedly attempting to postpone or avoid it. An Emirati source suggested the visit was not deemed necessary by the UAE, depending on the level of pressure exerted. The eventual meeting was described as cold and limited in its public scope.

Despite the political maneuvering, discussions between Netanyahu and bin Zayed focused significantly on Iran and the Houthi threat to Gulf states. Israeli security assistance, including missile and drone interception systems, early warning capabilities, and intelligence sharing, is believed to have been a key factor in bin Zayed's agreement to meet. A former Israeli diplomat noted that while the UAE may not wish to politically back Netanyahu, they cannot ignore him as long as he is prime minister, especially given Iran's proximity and Israel's role as a regional security insurance policy.