Former aide says Netanyahu received ‘royal welcome’ in UAE during secret wartime visit
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's former chief of staff, Ziv Agmon, said Thursday that Netanyahu was welcomed “with the honor reserved for kings” during a previously undisclosed wartime visit to the United Arab Emirates. Agmon,…
Assessment
The disclosure of a secret wartime visit to the UAE, described as a royal welcome, signals the depth of behind-the-scenes diplomatic ties between Israel and the Gulf state even during active conflict. The fact that the visit remained classified until now suggests operational sensitivity and a desire to avoid public scrutiny of normalization amid war. The personal involvement of the UAE president in hosting the Israeli delegation underscores the strategic importance both leaders place on the relationship. Watch for whether this revelation prompts further disclosures about other covert diplomatic engagements during the war.