The Prime Minister’s Office decided to confirm that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran due to concerns that former prime minister Naftali Bennett was also planning a visit to Abu Dhabi, according to a report by N12.
The report said officials feared that if Bennett’s trip became public while Netanyahu’s wartime visit remained classified, it could create the impression that Bennett had easier access to Emirati leadership.
Last week, the PMO confirmed that Netanyahu visited the UAE at the start of Operation “Roaring Lion” and met UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, calling the meeting a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral ties.
The UAE Foreign Ministry denied that any such visit took place, saying reports of undisclosed meetings were baseless unless officially announced.N12 reported that Abu Dhabi had requested confidentiality over the meeting, and that Israel’s public confirmation led to diplomatic tensions.
According to the report, the disclosure was driven more by political considerations related to Bennett’s expected visit than by diplomatic necessity.
Bennett’s alleged UAE visit has not been confirmed, and his office declined to comment. The Prime Minister’s Office denied the report.