In a move that reflects the magnitude of the regional transformations imposed by the recent war with Iran, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed a visit he made to the UAE during the period of military confrontation, in a striking indication of the continuation of political contacts between the two sides despite the unprecedented tension witnessed in the region.
Netanyahu’s office announced that the Israeli Prime Minister met during the visit with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressing that the meeting “resulted in a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE.”
The official statement stated that Netanyahu “held a secret meeting with the President of the UAE during the war with Iran. During Operation “Lion’s Roar,” Netanyahu made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with the President of the State, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.”
The statement added: “The visit constituted a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates.”
The Israeli statement did not reveal additional details about the nature of this “breakthrough” or the files that were discussed, but the timing of the announcement carries important political and security implications, especially since the visit took place at the height of the war with Iran, and in light of escalating regional fears about the expansion of the confrontation in the Gulf and the Middle East.
This visit comes at a time when the region has witnessed a series of rapid transformations, with the escalation of security and political coordination between a number of countries allied with Washington, in parallel with the tensions related to the Strait of Hormuz and mutual attacks between Iran and Israel, in addition to the increasing American pressure on Tehran.
The Israeli declaration also reflects Tel Aviv’s adherence to the path of normalization and regional relations that began after the “Abraham Accords,” despite the security unrest and wars that the region has witnessed during the recent period.
The UAE is considered one of the most prominent Arab countries that has maintained open channels of communication with Israel on political, economic, and security issues, while the disclosure of this visit is expected to spark widespread reactions in light of the sensitivity of the timing and the current regional circumstances.
