Report: Netanyahu Revealed Secret UAE Visit to Avoid Being Overshadowed by Election Rival Bennett

Darwin, 18 May : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to publicize his previously undisclosed visit to the United Arab Emirates was reportedly driven by domestic political concerns over a planned trip by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, according to a report aired Sunday by Channel 12.

The report said UAE officials had explicitly requested that Netanyahu’s visit remain confidential. However, Netanyahu’s office later disclosed the trip, prompting frustration in Abu Dhabi and sparking a diplomatic dispute despite the close ties between the two countries.

Speaking on Wednesday, Netanyahu said he had secretly traveled to the UAE during the US-Israel conflict involving Iran and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. He described the meeting as leading to a “historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations.

The UAE, however, publicly denied the claim, dismissing the Israeli premier’s statement as “completely baseless.”

If confirmed, the trip would mark Netanyahu’s first visit to the UAE since relations between Israel and Abu Dhabi were normalized under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Several previously planned visits had failed to materialize.

According to Channel 12, Netanyahu chose to reveal the visit after learning that Bennett was expected to travel to the UAE the following day for meetings with bin Zayed and senior Emirati officials.

Bennett, who recently returned to politics as leader of the newly formed “Together” party, is widely viewed as Netanyahu’s main rival in the upcoming Knesset elections. In 2021, Bennett formed a coalition government with centrist, left-wing and Arab parties that ousted Netanyahu from power. He stepped away from politics after the coalition collapsed in 2022.

Citing two unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu feared Bennett’s visit would become public while his own meeting remained secret, potentially creating the impression that Emirati leaders welcomed Bennett officially while treating the sitting Israeli prime minister as an unwelcome guest.

It remained unclear whether Bennett’s planned visit ultimately took place.

Bennett’s office declined to comment on the report, while Netanyahu’s office denied the allegations, according to Channel 12.

Despite occasional tensions, Israel and the UAE have steadily expanded security and economic cooperation since the Abraham Accords. The report noted that collaboration intensified significantly following the outbreak of conflict with Iran.

Among other areas, the two countries were said to have coordinated strikes on Iranian targets, shared intelligence, worked jointly to detect and intercept Iranian missiles and drones, and cooperated on selecting strategic targets inside Iran.