Ex-Mossad chief: No memory of UAE warning before Oct. 7

Eyal Tzir Cohen, who served as head of the Mossad's Tevel (foreign relations) division in September and October 2023, addressed reports this morning (Monday) on Galei Tzahal that Israel received warnings from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates ahead of the October 7 massacre.

"I don't recall intelligence on a warning from MBZ [Mohammed bin Zayed] and Sufian Abu Zaydah, and I also don't recall a visit by Abbas Kamel," Tzir Cohen said. "If there's a visit by Abbas Kamel that doesn't go through the Tevel division at the Mossad, that's very unusual, but theoretically it could happen."

Tzir Cohen added that since October 7, he has held dozens of hours of meetings with Abbas Kamel, Egypt's intelligence chief, and his staff. "I never recall the subject coming up even in corridor conversations or side discussions, they never told us they had warned us," he said.

Prime Minister Netanyahu flew last night under heavy secrecy to a diplomatic meeting with the leader of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed. According to reports, Netanyahu departed covertly on an unofficial private aircraft used by Israel for diplomatic meetings and remained in the country for approximately four hours.

The meeting is unusual in the diplomatic landscape for two parallel reasons. Bin Zayed typically avoids diplomatic meetings with leaders during election periods in an attempt to avoid appearing to take sides in internal politics. Beyond that, the conflicting reports surrounding the claims about whether or not an Emirati warning existed before October 7 place both leaders in a less-than-ideal light as backdrop to a diplomatic meeting.