Illustrative image. (Israeli Air Force)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a secret meeting with representatives of Saudi Arabia and several other Arab countries during his unannounced visit to the United Arab Emirates on September 27, according to Hebrew media reports.
The reported meeting, which has not been confirmed by the countries named, included representatives from Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Jordan as well as other Gulf states, Yedioth Ahronoth reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions held in the UAE.
The meeting was reportedly arranged by Mossad chief Roman Goffman and hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The talks reportedly focused on Iran and the Houthis, amid an escalation by the latter that has included missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia and attacks affecting shipping in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has sought additional assistance in confronting the attacks.
The reports also said Israel discussed the possibility of providing air defense assistance to regional countries. One account said the proposal was linked to assistance Israel provided to the UAE during the recent war with Iran. No agreement, timetable or list of prospective recipients was publicly announced.
The reported gathering came during Netanyahu’s visit to Abu Dhabi, which Israel and the UAE officially confirmed on September 28. Netanyahu’s office said he traveled at the invitation of Sheikh Mohamed and that the visit focused on “strengthening relations between the two countries and on regional challenges.”
The UAE’s state news agency, WAM, said Sheikh Mohamed received Netanyahu and that the two discussed “bilateral relations between the UAE and Israel and ways to strengthen and develop them.” The Emirati statement did not mention Saudi Arabia or the other countries reported to have participated in the broader meeting.
This is the first such known meeting since the start of the war on Iran. The meeting is a sign of a near escalation by Israel, and can be seen as a new attempt by Netanyahu to drag Arab countries into the conflict with the Islamic Republic after successfully achieving so with the United States.
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the mafia boss visits his minions to make war. eastern yemen has oil access. pirates must rob and steal. the submarine drones sent to hormuz may be planning an explosion ?