Netanyahu says he 'secretly visited' UAE during war with Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he paid a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the ongoing war with Iran. The statement raises fresh questions about regional diplomacy and the future of the Abraham Accords.
Speaking in the Knesset, Netanyahu said he made a short visit to the United Arab Emirates in the early weeks of the Iran war. The prime minister did not go into the substance of the meetings, but said the talks covered security coordination and protection of energy transit routes.
The UAE foreign ministry has yet to comment officially. Regional analysts pointed to accelerating coordination among the United States, the UAE and Saudi Arabia to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. Opposition parties in Israel asked Netanyahu to brief parliament in closed session.
Diplomatic ties between the two countries have continued since the signing of the Abraham Accords, but formal contacts had been low-profile during the Gaza war. The disclosure has reignited debate about the post-Iran diplomatic map of the region.
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