Netanyahu, UAE president hold expanded meeting with officials from 10 countries: report

Representatives from US, Saudi Arabia reportedly attend meeting, discuss possibly forming new regional alliance

Officials from 10 countries took part in an expanded meeting in Abu Dhabi between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Israel’s Channel 14 reported Tuesday.

The broadcaster, citing an unnamed Emirati source, said the meeting was held in two stages, with the first involving Netanyahu and Sheikh Mohamed. It said a second, expanded session included representatives from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, Libya and Oman, in addition to Israel and the UAE.

The countries named in the report did not immediately comment.

The unnamed source was cited as saying that the meeting focused on strengthening security and intelligence cooperation between Israel and the UAE and establishing a regional defence framework against “shared threats.”

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The report also said participants discussed measures concerning Iran and Yemen’s Houthi group, intelligence and security assistance to Saudi Arabia, and the possibility of forming a new regional alliance.

Channel 14 further said the participants discussed the possibility of establishing an oil transport route bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

The UAE’s official WAM news agency said Monday that Sheikh Mohamed had received Netanyahu during a visit to the country on Sunday. WAM said the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them.

Netanyahu’s office later confirmed that he and his wife had visited the UAE on Sunday, saying the talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties and regional challenges.

It said Netanyahu was accompanied by National Security Council chief Shmuel Ben Ezra, Mossad intelligence agency chief Roman Gofman, Military Secretary Guy Markizano and political adviser Ophir Falk.