Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a six-hour meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss Iran.
Key facts
- •Netanyahu spent six hours in the UAE during his Sunday visit.
- •The meeting was preceded by multiple phone calls between the two leaders.
- •Emirati officials described the pressure to arrange the meeting as 'particularly heavy.'
- •The UAE and Israel established formal ties under the 2020 Abraham Accords.
- •An earlier planned visit was canceled shortly before takeoff after the UAE claimed the president was unavailable.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United Arab Emirates on Sunday for a brief six-hour trip to meet with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to reports, the primary focus of the discussion between the two leaders was Iran. Netanyahu traveled to the country on a private plane, though neither his office nor the UAE Foreign Ministry provided immediate comment on the meeting.
Diplomatic Pressure and Scheduling
The meeting followed significant pressure from Netanyahu to secure a visit before upcoming elections. Sources indicated that an earlier attempt to schedule a visit was canceled at the last minute after preparations were complete, with Emirati officials claiming the president was not in the country. Subsequent checks suggested the president was in Abu Dhabi at that time. The leaders had reportedly spoken by phone several times in the weeks preceding the Sunday meeting.
Context of Bilateral Relations
Relations between the two nations have been strained, with reports suggesting the UAE president sought to avoid involvement in Israeli election campaigning. The UAE has previously denied meetings with Netanyahu, including a reported secret visit in May. Since the start of the war involving Iran, the UAE has worked to strengthen its security and diplomatic ties with both Israel and the United States, following the normalization of relations under the 2020 Abraham Accords.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by CGTN, Jerusalem Post.
