Netanyahu Confirms Secret Meeting with UAE President
October 13, Kathmandu – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed a secret meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s official news agency, Emirates News Agency (WAM), verified the talks that took place on Monday between Netanyahu and President Al Nahyan. Netanyahu had made a confidential visit to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, over the weekend. According to WAM, their discussions focused on bilateral relations between the two nations and ways to further strengthen and develop them.
Israeli media had previously reported on Netanyahu’s visit to the UAE, but this is the first confirmation from the UAE side. The trip occurred roughly a month before Israel’s parliamentary elections scheduled for October. Additionally, it took place amidst reports that, prior to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel, UAE President Al Nahyan had warned Netanyahu of a potential major assault.
According to Al Jazeera, Israeli Channel 12 was the first to break the news of Netanyahu’s recent visit to the UAE. On Monday, Israel’s secret service Shin Bet filed a complaint with the Israeli military censor, stating that reports about Netanyahu’s visit jeopardize the Prime Minister’s security and disclose sensitive operational details, the Associated Press (AP) reported.
The claim that a warning was given prior to the attack was first reported by Israeli newspaper Haaretz on September 9. The report alleged that President Al Nahyan had a phone conversation with Netanyahu about ten days before the October 7 attack. According to the newspaper, Al Nahyan had informed Netanyahu that Hamas’s then-leader Yahya Sinwar was preparing a “major surprise,” alerting him to a possible threat. Haaretz also reported that Al Nahyan had previously shared this security information with Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet. However, Netanyahu’s office has denied receiving any such warnings before the attack.