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UAE denies Israeli PM Netanyahu's ‘secret visit’ claim amid Iran war | What we know
Hours after Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's office stated that he made a “secret visit” to Abu Dhabi amid the Iran war, the UAE has denied the claim.
The United Arab Emirates has denied that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a “secret visit” to the Gulf nation amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Earlier on Wednesday, the office of Benjamin Netanyahu' released a statement which stated that the Likud leader made a secret visit to the UAE in a bid to improve relations and military connections.
As per the statement issued by the Israeli PMO, Netanyahu's alleged visit to the UAE resulted in a "historic breakthrough" in ties between the UAE and Israel.
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"In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE," read the complete statement issued by the Israeli prime minister's office.
UAE denies Netanyahu's claim
In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the Israeli prime minister's claim of a “secret visit.”
“The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating regarding an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE, or receiving any Israeli military delegation in the country,” said the UAE.
“The UAE reaffirms that its relations with Israel are public and conducted within the framework of the well-known and officially declared Abraham Accords, and are not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements. Accordingly, any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE,” the statement added further.
What do reports state?
As per a report by Reuters, people familiar with the matter stated that Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, also known as MBZ, met on March 26.
Reuters added that the main aim of the meeting was to coordinate military actions amid the war. The report from the news agency came after Netanyahu's office posted of the “secret meeting”.
The claim of this secret meeting from Netanyahu's office also comes after it was revealed by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee that Tel Aviv sent batteries for its Iron Dome interception system to operate from the UAE during the peak of the Iran war.
The US-Israeli war on Iran broke out on February 28. In response to the strikes from American and Israeli forces, and the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran launched a series of attacks on Gulf nations as part of its bid to target US bases in the region. UAE was the first, and among many, which were targeted by Iranian strikes.
Furthermore, the UAE was targeted more than any other country during the war, and despite the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, the Gulf nation has reported multiple missile and drone attacks.
The UAE also remains a key ally for Washington in the region and was the first Arab nation to sign the Abraham Accords.
Where do UAE-Israel ties stand?
Diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel began after both nations signed the Abraham Accords in 2020, brokered by US President Donald Trump during his first term.
The accords are a series of joint agreements between Arab nations and Israel, which not only recognise statehood for Israel but also normalise economic and security relations in the West Asia region.
As of now, the signatories of the Abraham Accords include Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco, Sudan and Israel.
While discussions remain ongoing, a major stall in talks and normalisation of diplomatic ties came after the outbreak of Israel's war on Gaza in October 2023.
Despite signing the accord, ties between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv remain strained, especially due to Israel's refusal to work towards the two-state solution, which guarantees statehood for Palestine.
This strain was further exacerbated after the war in Gaza, which to date has killed over 72,000 Palestinians and displaced over a million in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
