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Netanyahu's secret Abu Dhabi visit confirmed; wider meeting unconfirmed, Saudi Arabia denies

Israel and the UAE confirmed Netanyahu met the UAE president in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. Israeli media say other countries attended too, which Saudi Arabia denies.

10 outlets · 3L · 3C · 4R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 5). New coverage since the last version from Al Jazeera, Haaretz, Hindustan Times, JNS, The Hindu, The Jerusalem Post, The Media Line. Previously: “Netanyahu's secret Abu Dhabi visit confirmed; wider regional meeting reported but unconfirmed”.

Image: France 24
Image: Haaretz
Image: Washington Examiner
Image: The Media Line
Image: JNS
Image: The Hindu
Image: Breitbart
Image: Al Jazeera

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The story, neutrally told

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a secret trip to Abu Dhabi on Sunday 27 September and met UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, which the UAE's state news agency and his office confirmed the next day. Netanyahu's office said the visit focused on bilateral relations and regional challenges; the UAE's statement was shorter. Accounts of the length differ: France 24 cited two briefed people for an hourlong meeting, while the Jerusalem Post, quoted by Breitbart, cited three Israeli officials for six hours focused on Iran.

Israel's Channel 14 reported a wider meeting with representatives of eight other countries and the US; no alleged participant has publicly confirmed it, and Ynet's list differed. A Saudi official told AFP no Saudi representatives took part and Riyadh's stance on Israel is unchanged, though CNN, cited by the Jerusalem Post, reported a senior Saudi security official attended. CNN's Israeli source said Netanyahu presented intelligence that Iran is renewing nuclear progress, while Iran's Foreign Ministry condemned the visit and warned of "highly dangerous consequences".

Il Foglio, cited by Haaretz, reported Netanyahu also met Saddam Haftar, son of the general who controls eastern Libya; this is unverified. The trip followed a Haaretz report that the UAE president warned Netanyahu before Oct. 7, 2023, which Netanyahu denies; Haaretz reported he asked for a public denial, and Channel 12 said the president declined. The controversy comes ahead of 27 October elections, and Netanyahu's office said Channel 12's early report put lives at risk.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left3 outlets

Framing
Focuses on the Oct. 7 warnings controversy and Netanyahu's election exposure, with Haaretz adding the Libya angle and The Hindu the Saudi denial.
Emphasis
Alleged warnings from the UAE and Egypt, opposition attacks, Netanyahu's denials and lawsuits.
Leaves out or plays down
Little on the Iran-focused regional agenda or the wider summit claims.
Charged language
“genocidal war on Gaza”
For example
“Haaretz reported that during the meeting, Netanyahu asked the president to deny that he had personally warned him before the October 7 massacre.” — Haaretz
“Netanyahu has been emphatic in his denials of having received any warning of an attack, and has sued over the claims.” — Al Jazeera

Centre3 outlets

Framing
Reports the visit through the Saudi denial and Iranian reaction, and France 24 through the Oct. 7 denial angle.
Emphasis
Saudi Arabia's denial, Iran's warning to the UAE, Abraham Accords context.
Leaves out or plays down
Less detail on the reported Channel 14 participant list and the Libya report.
For example
“Saudi Arabia has rejected reports that its representatives attended an expanded meeting in Abu Dhabi” — Hindustan Times
“Iran also urged other countries in the region to remain vigilant against threats to collective peace and security” — The Media Line

Right4 outlets

Framing
Stresses the security summit, Iran and Houthi threats; JNS opinion defends Netanyahu against the Oct. 7 warning claims.
Emphasis
Ten-nation meeting reports, Iranian nuclear intelligence, Gulf-Israel ties; opinion on rivals' motives.
Leaves out or plays down
Washington Examiner and Breitbart mention Netanyahu's denials of the Oct. 7 warning only briefly.
Charged language
“Bibi-bashers”“far-left daily Haaretz”“bombshell report”
For example
“Netanyahu met with representatives from eight Muslim nations during secret UAE visit: Report” — Washington Examiner
“it’s hard to resist rewriting history to blacken Bibi’s reputation” — JNS