Netanyahu conducted secret visit to UAE, to discuss Iran, Houthis, and regional security - report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly flew to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, meeting with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, to discuss bilateral relations, the Iranian situation and security ties with other Gulf states. 

The unannounced visit lasted about six hours. During the meeting with bin Zayed, Netanyahu was accompanied by Mossad chief Roman Gofman, who helped arrange the meeting, according to reports in Hebrew media. 

A statement published by the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday revealed that alongside Netanyahu and Gofman, Netanyahu’s wife Sara, National Security Council head Shmuel Ben-Ezra, Military Secretary Maj. Gen. Guy Markizeno, and the head of the Shin Bet Security Division, also accompanied the prime minister on the trip. 

The visit to the UAE took place on an executive plane belonging to an Israeli businessman, which senior Israeli officials use on flights around the world, public broadcaster Kan News reported. 

According to reports in Hebrew media, at the time of Netanyahu’s visit, planes from several other Arab nations also arrived in the UAE, including a government plane from Libya, a military plane from Morocco, a military plane from Qatar and an Emirati government plane from Riyadh. 

Representatives from those nations met with Netanyahu and his entourage to discuss the Iranian situation, along with other regional developments, the Hebrew reports claimed. 

Besides discussing possible scenarios regarding the situation with Iran, the representatives also discussed security threats, including the Houthi threat, Israel Hayom reported, citing “two Gulf diplomatic sources.” 

The Emirati government and news agencies in the Gulf state did not acknowledge the visit until Monday evening, when it announced that the two leaders had met to discuss “bilateral ties.” 

The PMO statement came after the UAE government acknowledged the visit. 

Israel’s Channel 12 News originally reported the story Sunday evening, while the prime minister’s plane was still outside Israel. 

Israel’s Shin Bet security agency filed a complaint with the military censor on Monday, saying the publication of the story was a “serious censorship offense,” which endangered Netanyahu and those traveling with him. 

“The publication of the visit at the stage when it was published endangered the security of the prime minister, the operation, and the forces on the ground. In addition, the publication of the visit and the manner in which it took place revealed the service's methods of operation, in a way that puts future operations at a higher risk,” the Shin Bet said in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Netanyahu's previous visit to the UAE in March was reported only over a week after the trip. That visit occurred during the fighting with Iran. 

The publication of the story came amid reports that Netanyahu had asked bin Zayed to deny reports that the UAE leader had warned him ahead of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. 

Netanyahu’s office denied the reports, saying, “The visit dealt only with strengthening bilateral ties and regional challenges.” 

In recent weeks, several international and Israeli news organizations have reported on alleged warnings given to Netanyahu before the Oct. 7 attacks.