Prime Minister Netanyahu's secret flight to the United Arab Emirates last week appears to have been far more than another discreet diplomatic meeting, according to multiple reports in the international press. Sources close to the talks describe a series of political meetings that included representatives from Saudi Arabia and even Libya's de facto ruler.
When Netanyahu's covert trip first came to light, questions centered on the unusual timing of his meeting with UAE leader Mohammed bin Zayed during an election period. But new reports suggest the encounter may have involved diplomatic developments that few could have anticipated.
According to the reports, the meetings began in a small format, first between Netanyahu and bin Zayed, and then expanded to include representatives from additional regional states, including Saudi Arabia. The discussions covered regional cooperation, confronting the broad Iranian threat, and even air-defense capabilities and the potential purchase of Iron Dome systems.
But beyond even that, an Italian report claims that at one point a dramatic meeting took place that included Libya's military chief Saddam Haftar, who also serves as the country's de facto leader. According to the same report, Haftar is interested in moving toward renewed relations between his government and the West.
