Netanyahu asked UAE leader to publicly deny 7 October 2023 warning to Israel: Report

What Happened

According to a report by the Associated Press, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the UAE on Sunday to ask Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed to publicly deny a Haaretz story that the Gulf state warned Israel in advance of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Israeli media outlets reported that Netanyahu lobbied bin Zayed in an hour-long meeting; Haaretz, citing an upcoming book, reported that bin Zayed told Netanyahu Israel should be ready for a Hamas-led operation and recommended an economic solution for Gaza and calming tensions in the occupied West Bank. The UAE's state news agency WAM confirmed in a Monday evening statement that bin Zayed received Netanyahu and the two discussed ways to 'strengthen bilateral relations.' Netanyahu and his government have consistently denied reports that they received prior warnings, and after Haaretz's September article, Netanyahu claimed exiled Fatah politician Mohammed Dahlan was the source.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The report places Netanyahu in direct diplomatic contact with a key Arab ally to manage fallout from intelligence-failure allegations ahead of Israeli elections roughly one month away, while five opposition parties have agreed to coordinate against him. It also highlights strain in UAE-Israel relations: the UAE previously denied Netanyahu's office claims of an unannounced meeting during fighting with Iran. The revived warning claims involving Egypt and the UAE feed ongoing accountability debates over the 7 October 2023 attack and could shape both Israeli domestic politics and regional perceptions of Netanyahu's leadership.

Watch For

Monitor whether the UAE or bin Zayed issues a public denial or clarification of the Haaretz warning claim; whether Israel's Supreme Court overturns the Central Elections Committee's ban on Arab-majority lists and two Joint List candidates; the upcoming Israeli elections, expected in about one month; and any further publication or corroboration from the upcoming book cited by Haaretz, as well as responses from Netanyahu's office and Egyptian authorities.