Netanyahu made a secret visit to UAE

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohamed bin Zayed during a secret meeting on Sunday to deny a report that he had warned Netanyahu of an imminent Hamas attack before October 7, 2023, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported.

Netanyahu asked bin Zayed to deny reports about their phone conversation and details surrounding the events before October 7 that "could embarrass him," Haaretz said, citing unspecified sources.

The Israeli premier also asked the Emirati president for what one source described as "moral support," the newspaper reported.

Netanyahu held an hour-long meeting with bin Zayed, according to two people briefed on the trip.

Israeli and Emirati authorities had not officially confirmed the reported visit, though a senior Israeli official told Reuters about the meeting.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Netanyahu travelled on a private plane owned by an unnamed Israeli businessman and used by senior Israeli figures for international trips.

It departed Ben Gurion Airport in the afternoon and landed in Abu Dhabi at 3:10 pm (1110GMT), the broadcaster said. It took off for Israel at 7:10 pm (1510GMT), four hours later, and landed shortly after 10pm (1900GMT).

KAN said Netanyahu had also used the aircraft for a trip to Abu Dhabi during the war with Iran.

The visit comes after Haaretz this month reported that Sheikh Mohamed had warned Netanyahu a week and a half before October 7, 2023, that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel. Haaretz had reported that the warning was not passed to Israeli intelligence agencies or the military.

Netanyahu, who denied the report and threatened legal action against the newspaper, is facing a tough reelection campaign. Opposition leaders have accused the prime minister of bearing responsibility for security failures that preceded Hamas' October 7 attack.