Bilal Bashir Bhat | Onlykashmir.in
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s secret (now officially confirmed by both states) visit to the United Arab Emirates has brought renewed attention to the changing political scenario of the Middle East.
Netanyahu met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, September 27, in a meeting that was officially acknowledged by the Emirati government a day later.
According to the UAE’s state news agency, WAM, the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between their countries. Netanyahu’s office also said the visit, made at the invitation of the UAE president, focused on strengthening ties and addressing regional challenges, reports Emirates News Agency.
The meeting comes at a sensitive moment for the region, with the war and devastation in Gaza and other parts of Palestine, tensions involving Iran and shifting diplomatic alliances continuing to shape political calculations. It also highlights the importance both countries attach to maintaining communication, even as Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories remain a source of deep concern across much of the Arab world.
The visit has attracted particular attention following a report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which alleged that Sheikh Mohamed had warned Netanyahu about a possible major Hamas attack approximately a week and a half before October 7, 2023. According to the report, the warning was not passed on to Israeli intelligence agencies or the military.
Netanyahu has denied the allegation and threatened legal action against the newspaper. The UAE has not confirmed the reported warning, while reiterating that communication channels between the two countries have remained open since diplomatic relations were established.
Reports in Israeli media suggested that the October 7 controversy was among the subjects discussed during the Abu Dhabi meeting. However, the official Emirati statement did not mention the issue.
Israel and the UAE formally established diplomatic relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, an agreement that marked a significant shift in Arab and Israel diplomacy. Since then, the two countries have developed economic and diplomatic links, while maintaining channels for discussions on security and regional affairs.
The UAE’s engagement with Israel has also been shaped by its broader relationship with the United States and its efforts to strengthen its position in a region facing continuing instability.
Now coming to the point, the phrase Greater Israel has resurfaced in discussions surrounding Israel’s regional ambitions. It is used in different political and religious contexts, sometimes referring to territorial expansion, but it has no single universally accepted definition. The term is often invoked in debates over Israel’s borders, settlements and long-term political objectives.
While Netanyahu’s visit to the UAE does not, in itself, establish any territorial agenda, the meeting has prompted questions about the direction of Israel’s regional policy and the implications of closer ties between Israel and Arab states.
Ultimately, the significance of the visit extends beyond a single diplomatic meeting. It reflects the complex choices facing Middle Eastern governments as they navigate security concerns, political pressures and competing visions for the region’s future.
