Netanyahu Secretly Meets UAE Leader Amid Mideast Tensions

Israeli PM Netanyahu meets Emirati leader in secret trip. EU seeks observer status in Saudi-led coalition. New developments in Middle East.

Editorial Desk

September 28, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Jerusalem, Israel — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret visit to Abu Dhabi over the weekend, meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The meeting, confirmed by two sources, focused on a report alleging the Emirati leader warned Netanyahu about an impending Hamas attack ahead of the October 7, 2023, assault that triggered the Gaza war.

The European Union is seeking observer status in a Saudi-led maritime defense coalition aimed at protecting energy exports. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas announced the move, emphasizing the need for more naval presence in the Red Sea to counter Houthi attacks. Meanwhile, Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned a decision to freeze a controversial West Bank settlement project, accusing the attorney general of political interference.

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Israel also summoned the Spanish Embassy over remarks by Spain’s youth minister supporting a Palestinian state from the river to the sea, a phrase seen as implying the elimination of Israel. In another development, the Netherlands expressed regret over Israel’s expulsion of its diplomats in the West Bank, citing an import ban on goods from Israeli settlements.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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