Veteran Middle East journalist Jackie Hugi responded Tuesday to a Haaretz report claiming that United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before October 7 that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was planning a major operation that would ignite the Middle East.
According to Hugi, the publication of such information places Abu Dhabi in an extremely awkward diplomatic position. "This morning's report about the bin Zayed-Netanyahu conversation has put Abu Dhabi in an embarrassing situation," Hugi said. "In Arab consciousness, this act borders on betrayal. An Arab ruler passing confidential intelligence to Israel's prime minister and attempting to save him from an attack, this echoes how King Hussein is remembered in Arab memory as a collaborator with the Zionists after he went to Golda Meir on September 25, 1973, and revealed the coordinated Egyptian-Syrian attack."
Hugi noted that bin Zayed faces a difficult choice regarding how to respond. "If bin Zayed denies the warning ever happened, he'll be handing Netanyahu points before the elections, and let's say politely, Israel's prime minister is not among his favorites. That's the dilemma, and it's possible the solution they'll choose is a denial after the elections."
Hugi concluded by drawing a broader historical parallel: "This story illustrates how history repeats itself, not only in the context of Hussein and Golda. Palestinian figure Mohammed Dahlan, the main source for this story, has entangled his patron in an embarrassing incident. This is what Yasser Arafat and PLO leaders did repeatedly to the Arab leaders who served as their umbrella and home."
