Netanyahu Asked UAE President to Reject Pre-October 7 Warning Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly met UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on September 27 and asked him to deny a Haaretz report that the UAE had warned Israel before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to AP sources. The UAE declined to comment on the meeting but said the two governments maintain direct communication and share relevant intelligence. Netanyahu’s office has denied that such a warning was given.
Israeli media outlet Channel 12 first disclosed the trip. Two people briefed on the visit told AP that Netanyahu spent an hour with Sheikh Mohammed on Sept. 27. The Emirati foreign ministry would not discuss the meeting, while stressing open channels and intelligence sharing. Netanyahu’s office has said no such warning was conveyed.
The Haaretz account stemmed from a book by Israeli journalists Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yuval, who cited dozens of interviews. It said three senior foreign officials knew of an alleged 45-minute call. Later, NYT reported Netanyahu allegedly kept Gaza calm partly to protect Saudi normalization; The Atlantic said Egypt’s Abbas Kamel warned Israel on Sept. 26, 2023.
The renewed focus on pre-Oct. 7 warnings may deepen public scrutiny in Israel over leadership and intelligence failures, affecting bereaved families, hostages’ relatives, and voters. It could also complicate UAE-Israel ties and broader normalization efforts, as officials weigh trust and diplomatic exposure. Regional observers may see the episode as a test of accountability and intelligence-sharing, though the full impact remains uncertain while accounts are disputed.