Mayur MohtaIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced trip to the UAE on Sunday to meet Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The trip came right after a Haaretz report stirred a political row in Israel.
The Netanyahu Abu Dhabi visit took place quietly on Sunday, according to Israeli public broadcaster Kan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to the Emirati capital. There he met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. His office did not announce the trip beforehand.
Netanyahu Abu Dhabi Visit Comes Amid a Political Storm
The trip follows a fresh scandal that has shaken Israel in recent days. The Haaretz newspaper published a report about Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. It claims he warned the Israeli prime minister about a planned Hamas attack. The warning allegedly came just before October 7, 2023.
The paper also says Netanyahu never passed this information to the intelligence services. The prime minister firmly rejected these claims in the press. The UAE has not confirmed them either.
What Kan Reported About the Meeting
Kan gave a short and direct account of the trip. “Netanyahu today (on Sunday, ed.) visited the United Arab Emirates and met with President Mohammed bin Zayed. Netanyahu’s office did not announce the visit,” the broadcaster said in its publication.
The broadcaster added details about the flight. Netanyahu used a private plane that belongs to an Israeli businessman. Other senior state officials also use the same jet for trips around the world. The prime minister stayed in the UAE for only a few hours.
The Book Behind the Haaretz Report
Haaretz timed its story with the release of an upcoming book. Israeli journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval wrote it. The book carries the title “Hostages: 843 Days of Inaction”. The authors say their investigation rests on testimony from dozens of sources in Israel and abroad.
The findings caused a strong public reaction inside Israel. Opposition leaders once again accused the government of negligence. They also renewed their call for a state commission of inquiry into the tragic events of October 7, 2023. The Netanyahu Abu Dhabi visit now adds another layer to that heated debate.
Akshay Didwaniya
