Security agency lodges complaint over report claiming Netanyahu visited UAE

Israel’s domestic security agency has filed a complaint against a television channel over its report that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travelled to the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office on Monday.

The statement said the Shin Bet approached the Chief Military Censor and called for legal action against Channel 12, accusing the broadcaster of a serious breach of censorship rules.

Israeli media, including Channel 12, reported on Sunday that Netanyahu had travelled to the UAE for a meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Neither the Israeli nor Emirati government had officially confirmed the visit.

Monday’s statement marked Israel’s first acknowledgement of the trip, although it did not disclose the UAE as the destination.

Reports said Netanyahu travelled to the Gulf state amid renewed controversy over claims that the Emirati president had warned him before Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Netanyahu has rejected the allegation that he received such a warning and failed to pass it on to Israeli security officials.

According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu’s visit was aimed at asking Sheikh Mohamed to publicly deny that such a warning had been issued.

Netanyahu’s office said revealing the trip while the prime minister’s aircraft was still outside Israeli airspace had put the safety of Netanyahu, his wife and members of the delegation at risk. The delegation reportedly included Mossad chief and other senior security officials.

The Mossad also criticised the publication of details about the trip, according to Netanyahu’s office.

Israel and the UAE established formal diplomatic relations in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.