Netanyahu met UAE president, both sides say

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Emirates on Sunday, UAE official media and Netanyahu's office said.

The confirmation appeared to be the first time Abu Dhabi acknowledged a meeting between the two leaders. Netanyahu's office said the visit focused on strengthening relations between Israel and the UAE and on regional challenges. An Emirati statement said the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them.

The visit came after an Israeli media report said the Emirati president had warned Netanyahu before Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and that Netanyahu did not pass the warning to security services. Netanyahu has denied the report.

Israeli media reported that Netanyahu travelled to the UAE on Sunday to ask Sheikh Mohamed to deny giving such a warning. Before Netanyahu's office formally confirmed the destination, Israel's Shin Bet security service filed a complaint against Channel 12 over its reporting of the visit.

Netanyahu's office said publication of the visit while the prime minister's plane was still outside Israeli airspace endangered Netanyahu, his wife and the delegation, which included the head of the Mossad spy agency and other senior security officials.

The UAE is a US ally in the region and one of a small number of Arab states with official ties to Israel after signing the Abraham Accords in 2020.