Libyan General's Son Attended Secret Summit with Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Saddam Haftar, son of eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, attended a secret summit in Abu Dhabi where he was in the same room as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This meeting underscores ongoing regional diplomacy and Israel's unofficial ties with Arab nations.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Son of Libyan General Khalifa Haftar attended summit with Netanyahu.
- The secret meeting took place last week in Abu Dhabi.
- Saddam Haftar was in the same room as Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- Reports of Israeli ties to Haftar's camp have emerged previously.
- Libya remains divided between eastern and western factions.
- The summit highlights regional diplomacy and unofficial Arab-Israeli contacts.
A source familiar with a recent summit in Abu Dhabi has confirmed that Saddam Haftar, the son of General Khalifa Haftar who commands forces in eastern Libya, was present at a meeting of representatives from ten countries. Haftar was in the same room as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the gathering, which took place last week.
The confirmation follows earlier reports suggesting Haftar's presence in the United Arab Emirates concurrently with Netanyahu's visit. An Italian newspaper had reported that Haftar's plane landed in the UAE shortly after Netanyahu's arrival.
Saddam Haftar is a prominent son of General Khalifa Haftar and a key figure in the administration controlling eastern Libya. Reports of connections between Haftar's camp and Israeli officials have surfaced in recent years, including a 2021 report about a plane linked to the Haftar family arriving in Israel amid ongoing contacts.
Libya has been divided since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with a government based in Tripoli in the west and Haftar's forces holding significant military and political power in the east. The eastern faction has received support from countries like Egypt and the UAE.
Haftar's participation in the Abu Dhabi summit alongside Netanyahu and other national representatives highlights ongoing behind-the-scenes regional diplomacy and Israel's engagement with Arab entities with whom it lacks official diplomatic relations.