“A secret visit”: Benjamin Netanyahu went to the United Arab Emirates during the war to meet its president

A meeting which would have taken place in the greatest discretion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the war between his country and Iran. It would have been received without it being officially communicated by the Emirati president, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office announced on Wednesday.

“In the midst of the operation [militaire israélo-américaine contre l'Iran lancée le 28 février]Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates and met there with the president of the federation, an official statement said. The United Arab Emirates is one of the rare Arab countries to have normalized its relations with Israel as part of the so-called Abraham Accords in 2020.

Embarrassed, the Abu Dhabi authorities however denied this information. “The United Arab Emirates denies reports circulating about an alleged visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Emirates, or the reception of any Israeli military delegation in the country,†the Ministry of Affairs said. foreign authorities in a press release Wednesday evening.

“Historic breakthrough” in relations between the two countries

On Tuesday, the United States ambassador to Israel said that the Jewish state had sent anti-aircraft defense systems and personnel responsible for operating them to the Emirates during the war with Iran. Without confirming this information, the press release from Benjamin Netanyahu’s services ensures that the latter’s visit “led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”

A visit which also caused a reaction from Iranian diplomacy. “Connivance with Israel” is “unforgivable,” wrote Seyed Abbas Araghchi on X. “Those who collude with Israel to sow division will be held accountable,” added Iran’s foreign minister.

The Emirates were targeted almost daily by Iran during the war in the Middle East, triggered on February 28 by the joint attack by the United States and Israel against Tehran. A ceasefire came into effect last month but Abu Dhabi has since reported several missile and drone attacks from Iran.

The Emirates, which have significant oil reserves, are one of the main allies of the United States in the region and are among the Arab countries to have normalized relations with Israel, following the signing of the Abraham Accords during the first mandate of the American President Donald Trump.