New Delhi: The United Arab Emirates has confirmed that the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, met the UAE president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, a day after the previously secret visit was reported. The confirmation comes amid reports that Netanyahu used the meeting to ask Sheikh Mohammed to deny that he had warned him about an impending Hamas attack before October 7, 2023. Haaretz reported the request, while Channel 12 said Netanyahu’s office had repeatedly sought the meeting for the same purpose.
Why Netanyahu wants the UAE to back him
The timing is important for Netanyahu as Israel will hold its parliamentary election on October 27, the first election since the Hamas attack that killed about 1,200 people. Netanyahu’s handling of the October 7 security failure is directly tied to his political record, while reports of warnings from Arab leaders have renewed questions about what he knew before the attack. Reuters reported that Netanyahu is again campaigning on his image as Israel’s security guarantor despite the attack having become one of the country’s biggest security failures.
A public denial from Sheikh Mohammed could help Netanyahu on whether he personally received a warning from the UAE before the attack. Netanyahu has denied receiving any such warning, while Haaretz reported that Sheikh Mohammed had contacted him shortly before October 7. If Sheikh Mohammed denies this publicly, it could weaken this claim being used to question Netanyahu’s handling of the events before the attack.
That would also fit Netanyahu’s wider political response. Rather than accepting responsibility for the intelligence failure, he has increasingly pointed towards Israel’s security leadership. Earlier, he accused former Israeli intelligence officer, Ronen Bar, of knowing about the threat on the night before the attack but failing to inform him. Bar has rejected the accusation and said he will sue Netanyahu for defamation.
UAE refuses to enter Israel’s election fight
According to Channel 12, the UAE viewed the request as an Israeli domestic political matter and did not want to become involved, particularly with the election approaching. Haaretz reported that Netanyahu also sought what one source described as “moral support” from Sheikh Mohammed. The reported meeting took place at an airport.
The UAE’s official statement did not mention the warning controversy. It said only that Sheikh Mohammed and Netanyahu discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen them. Netanyahu’s office likewise said the visit focused on relations between the two countries and regional challenges, while rejecting the report that Netanyahu had asked for a denial.
Bar and Netanyahu turn dispute into legal battle
The dispute has turned into a legal battle, with former Israeli intelligence officer saying he would file a defamation lawsuit against Netanyahu. Bar took the step after Netanyahu accused him of knowing about the threat of a Hamas attack before October 7 but failing to alert him. He has called for the release of documents and testimony showing what information Netanyahu received before the attack, including details of his meetings with foreign and security officials. Bar also said his lawyers would seek testimony from senior members of Netanyahu’s staff.
The dispute has also widened over Channel 12’s report on Netanyahu’s secret UAE visit. According to a late Monday statement by the Israel prime minister office, cited by the Jerusalem Post, the Israel security agency demanded legal action against Channel 12, calling the report a serious censorship violation. The agency said the report, published at 9.38pm while Netanyahu’s aircraft was still outside Israel, endangered the prime minister, the operation and forces on the ground. The Israel PMO said it also put Netanyahu, his wife and members of the delegation, including senior security officials, the aircrew and security team, at risk.
A foreign intelligence agency also described the leak as a serious security threat to Netanyahu and the delegation and called for the incident to be treated as a serious security breach. The security agency said the report had exposed details of the operation that could increase risks to future operations, while Netanyahu’s aircraft landed in Israel at 10.27pm.
RNA Media had earlier reported that Haaretz and other international outlets alleged that Sheikh Mohammed warned Netanyahu about a possible Hamas operation before October 7. Netanyahu denied speaking to him and the UAE did not confirm the reported warning. RNA Media also reported separate claims of warnings from Egypt before the attack.
The latest dispute has brought those earlier allegations back into the political spotlight just weeks before Israel votes. It also comes against the backdrop of close Israel-UAE security and continuing regional tensions involving Iran.