Secret meeting gathered Netanyahu and bin Zayed in UAE in 2018
The Hebrew newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth” revealed today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the UAE secretly in 2018, and met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed.
The newspaper stated that Netanyahu’s secret visit to the UAE is the reason behind the hints he made yesterday, Monday, in which he assured reporters that he was meeting with a large number of leaders in the Arab world “more than you’d think”.
The newspaper pointed out that the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence service, Yossi Cohen, who accompanied Netanyahu on his visit to the Emirates, was the one who prepared for the visit through his relations with the regime in Abu Dhabi.
The newspaper said that “according to diplomatic sources, the meeting was successful and both parties kept close contact afterward”.
“Ben Shabatt held another meeting in Washington with UAE and U.S. officials in 2019. Sources said Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dremer was also involved in the negotiation process between the two countries.
“The Prime Minister’s Office refused to comment on the report, but Netanyahu said during a press conference on Monday that information about some of his meetings with Arab leaders has yet to become public”.
“‘I meet with many many leaders in the Arab and Muslim world, more than you’d think,’ Netanyahu said. ‘There are many things I cannot tell you about, but I do believe they will see light when the time is right. You could see the tip of the iceberg for yourselves in recent years.’”
For its part, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported that Emirati officials have expressed their desire to visit Israel.
In a report by its political correspondent Ariel Kahane from Abu Dhabi, the newspaper indicated that Emirati officials, in interviews with him, expressed their desire to visit Al-Aqsa Mosque. According to Kahana, Emirati officials have shown great concern for the use of energy in cooperation with Israel in all fields.
The newspaper pointed out that the presence of US officials in the meetings held by the Emirati and Israeli working groups, aimed at granting sponsorship for the path of “historical recognition between the two countries”.
The newspaper explained that most of the meetings held by the joint working groups were held under the chairmanship of the Israeli National Security Adviser, Meir Bin Shabat, and his Emirati counterpart, Tahnoun bin Zayed.
The White House issued a statement on behalf of the United States, Israel and the Emirates, expressing the commitment of the three “countries” to reach a peace agreement and cooperation in various fields, Israel Hayom said.
According to the statement, these areas include: investment, banking, health, a civil space plan, civil aviation, foreign relations and diplomatic affairs, tourism, and culture.
