A disagreement has emerged between the governments of Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding an alleged secret meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The incident is part of a broader context of regional military cooperation and conflict involving Iran.
A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the meeting did occur, lasting several hours. Another source cited by CBS News confirmed the visit occurred in late March.
Conflicting Accounts of a Meeting
The office of the Israeli Prime Minister stated on Wednesday that Mr. Netanyahu secretly traveled to the UAE and met with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Al Ain on March 26. The statement characterized the meeting as a "historic breakthrough" in relations between the two countries, where regional security cooperation and strategic coordination were discussed.
The UAE foreign ministry denied this account, calling the reports "baseless." The ministry stated that any relationship with Israel is conducted "publicly" and "not based on non-transparent or unofficial arrangements." It added that claims of unannounced visits are "entirely unfounded" unless officially announced by UAE authorities.
Regional Military Cooperation
The dispute over the meeting takes place against a backdrop of reported military collaboration between Israel, the UAE, and the United States during a war involving Iran.
- Mossad Visits: A source reported that Mossad director Dedi Barnea made at least two visits to the UAE during the conflict with Iran to coordinate military actions, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
- Iron Dome Deployment: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee disclosed that Israel deployed Iron Dome air-defense batteries and military personnel to the UAE during the war. Sources confirmed the UAE received the defense systems. This is the first known overseas deployment of the system.
- UAE Military Action: The Wall Street Journal reported that the UAE conducted military strikes against targets in Iran, including an attack on a refinery on Lavan Island in early April, in retaliation for Iranian attacks on Emirati oil facilities. The UAE has not publicly confirmed this action.
Background Context
- Iran Conflict: The reported meeting and military cooperation occurred during a regional war involving the US, Israel, and Iran. According to reports, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Gulf states, including the UAE, hitting civilian infrastructure and energy facilities.
- Abraham Accords: The UAE was the first Arab nation to normalize diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, followed by Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. Since then, the relationship has deepened into what some describe as a de facto alliance.
- UAE Foreign Policy: The UAE has pursued an independent foreign policy, including recent decisions to leave the Saudi-led OPEC. Both Israel and the UAE maintain close relationships with the Trump administration.
- Legal Matters: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court related to allegations of genocide in Gaza, which Israel has denied.
- Sudan: The UAE is widely believed by analysts and other governments to be arming the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan, a group accused of mass atrocities. The UAE government denies these allegations.