RIYADH — Saudi Arabia on Tuesday denied reports that representatives from the Kingdom took part in a weekend meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.
The denial followed claims circulated on social media by Israeli journalist Dror Balazada, who said on Monday that Saudi representatives had joined an expanded session after Netanyahu met with Sheikh Mohamed. According to those reports, discussions focused on security cooperation, Iran, the Houthis and regional defense systems.
Riyadh Dismisses Reports as Untrue
A Saudi source stated there was no truth to the reports circulating about the presence of a Saudi representative at the meeting, firmly rejecting the claims.
Netanyahu’s Abu Dhabi Visit
Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday and met with Sheikh Mohammed, the Emirates News Agency reported. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen and develop them.
Three senior Israeli officials told Reuters that the meeting between the two leaders lasted six hours and centered on Iran.
Regional Context
The reported encounter comes amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran’s nuclear program and the activities of the Houthi movement in Yemen among the key concerns for Gulf states and Israel alike.
- Saudi Arabia categorically denied any representative attended the Netanyahu-UAE meeting.
- The claims originated from an Israeli journalist’s social media post.
- Netanyahu’s Sunday visit to Abu Dhabi was confirmed by the UAE’s official news agency.
- Israeli officials said the six-hour talks focused primarily on Iran.
The Saudi denial underscores the sensitivity surrounding any suggestion of normalization or security coordination between Riyadh and Israel, particularly in a multilateral setting involving the UAE.
