UAE Confirms Netanyahu's Secret Trip to Abu Dhabi

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State media in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) confirmed on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret trip to Abu Dhabi on Sunday afternoon and met with Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, known as MBZ.

Secret Meeting and Regional Concerns

The confirmation came from Emirati state news agency WAM and was quickly corroborated by the Israeli prime minister’s office, which stated that Netanyahu was invited by MBZ for talks on strengthening relations between the two countries and addressing regional challenges.

Netanyahu was accompanied by his wife Sara, military secretary, foreign policy adviser, and heads of the Israeli National Security Council and Mossad intelligence service. According to the Jerusalem Post, the meeting lasted six hours and focused on Iran.

Pressure and Political Tensions

Emirati officials said Netanyahu applied significant pressure on MBZ to arrange the meeting, including hints about future security cooperation. The visit was originally planned for late last week, but MBZ last-minute reversed course, for unclear reasons.

Israeli sources told the Associated Press that a major reason for the meeting was to ask MBZ to deny media reports that Netanyahu had been informed about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israeli civilians. The Israeli government called the report ‘fake news.’

Regional Cooperation and Security Threats

Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu also met with other regional leaders in Abu Dhabi, possibly including representatives from Libya, Morocco, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Israeli media outlet Channel 14 noted that the leaders discussed establishing a regional framework for protection against shared threats, including Iranian proxies like the Houthi insurgents of Yemen.

Saudi Arabia requested help with the Houthi attacks, and Netanyahu did not reject the request. Ynet News claimed that Mossad chief Roman Goffman arranged the meeting after Saudi Arabia requested Israeli assistance against Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region.

Future Threats and Responses

Netanyahu urged MBZ and other leaders to maintain economic pressure on Tehran and prepare for potential Iranian attacks, including missile or drone strikes against critical infrastructure. The Iranians reportedly responded by threatening to attack countries that work with Israel.

Source: Breitbart