Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Sep 29: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United Arab Emirates on Sunday and met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with Abu Dhabi confirming the visit for the first time on Monday.
The UAE’s state news agency WAM said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop ties between the two countries. Netanyahu’s office said the visit was made at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed and focused on strengthening bilateral relations and regional challenges.
Three senior Israeli officials told Reuters that the meeting lasted about six hours and included discussions on Iran, although the UAE’s official account did not mention Iran. Earlier reports had put the duration of the meeting at around one hour.
The visit was first reported by Israel’s Channel 12 television station, while two people briefed on the trip confirmed that Netanyahu met Sheikh Mohamed on Sunday.
One person familiar with the meeting told the Associated Press that Netanyahu had asked Sheikh Mohamed to deny a recent Haaretz report alleging that the Emirati president had warned Israel of a possible Hamas attack shortly before the October 7, 2023, assault. Netanyahu’s office has denied the report and later denied that he raised the matter during the latest meeting.
The UAE had previously denied reports of a meeting between the two leaders after Netanyahu’s office said in May that he had secretly visited the country. A source familiar with that meeting had said Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed met in Al Ain on March 26.
Netanyahu’s office said the latest visit focused solely on strengthening relations and regional challenges. It also said the Shin Bet had filed a complaint against Channel 12, alleging that its report on the visit violated censorship rules before Netanyahu returned to Israel.
The latest meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions and is expected to keep Iran and regional security among the key issues in UAE-Israel engagement.