An Israeli source familiar with the meeting told CNN that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefed UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, during a visit he made to the country on Sunday, about new Israeli intelligence information indicating that Iran is resuming the development of its nuclear program.
Among the information revealed by Netanyahu are details regarding new construction work at the Ax Mountain site, located about 225 km south of the capital, Tehran, which is seen as a key site for potential Iranian efforts to rebuild its nuclear program.
An Israeli source familiar with the visit told CNN on Sunday that the meeting mainly revolved around discussing the Iranian file, an area in which the two countries have strengthened their cooperation, including during the current Iran-related war.
For its part, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) confirmed that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Netanyahu held a meeting in the country, noting that they discussed “bilateral relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to strengthen and develop them.”
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office stated that the meeting focused on "strengthening relations between the two countries and regional challenges."
The office stated that the visit included Netanyahu's wife, the head of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, a military secretary, and a political advisor.
A high-ranking Saudi security official also attended the meeting, according to what two sources familiar with the visit told CNN. According to one of the sources, the talks also addressed recent regional developments, including the Houthi militia file in Yemen, the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea, in addition to the Strait of Hormuz.
The source added that Netanyahu said during the meeting that Israel estimates that Iran may launch an attack in the region in the coming weeks.
This rare visit came exactly one month before the Israeli elections scheduled for October 27, and in light of a heated political controversy in Israel sparked by reports published by Haaretz and the New York Times, which claimed that “Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed warned Netanyahu of a major operation planned by the Hamas movement, days before the attack on October 7, 2023.”
In a separate report, The Atlantic magazine reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel flew to Israel on September 26, 2023, to warn that the situation in Gaza would “explode.” The Wall Street Journal also reported on Sunday that Egypt had sent at least three warnings to Israel regarding Gaza, the last of which was via a phone call with Netanyahu just a few days before the attack.
Netanyahu's position
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied receiving any warning, dismissing the reports as fabricated lies aimed at damaging him electorally.
The Prime Minister wrote on the “X” platform on Monday: “I never met the head of Egyptian intelligence and did not speak to him before October 7, and I did not receive any warning.” He added: "Foreign and hostile countries and entities - including Arab countries - stand behind these false and inflammatory allegations."
However, his opponents exploited these allegations to make the issue of accountability for the failure to prevent the October 7, 2023 attack a central issue in their election campaign.
Following initial reports of a warning from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE Foreign Ministry stated earlier this month that it “does not comment on media reports or speculation regarding talks between government leaders,” but did not deny making the call. The statement said: “When necessary, all relevant intelligence information has been and is being exchanged between the relevant authorities.”
Both Israel and the UAE did not mention the warning that was reported regarding October 7 in their statements issued on Monday regarding Netanyahu’s visit.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's opponents took advantage of the aforementioned warning to renew their attacks regarding his handling of the events that preceded October 7.
Gadi Eisenkot - who opinion polls currently indicate is the prime minister's main rival in the upcoming Israeli elections - said on Saturday that the revelation of the warning "leaves no doubt that Netanyahu led the State of Israel - due to blindness, arrogance and irresponsibility - towards the greatest catastrophe in its history."
In May, Netanyahu's office stated that the prime minister had secretly visited the UAE in March - during the first days of the war with Iran - describing it as a "historic breakthrough"; However, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time denied this allegation, describing it as “completely false.”
It is also said that Israel deployed the Iron Dome missile defense system in the UAE during the war, and Israeli officials have stated that security cooperation between the two countries has reached unprecedented levels.
