The Daily PulseWorld
Saudi Arabia Denies Claims of Secret Talks With Israeli Officials in the UAE
Reported by Faizan Khan (Staff Writer) · The Hindu - International ·
Confirmed by a second source: Indian Express - World
Representative image · Wikimedia CommonsA senior Saudi official has denied media reports that representatives of the kingdom took part in a meeting in Abu Dhabi between Israel's premier and the UAE president. Israeli media had claimed that Saudi officials attended an expanded meeting following talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with discussions supposedly focusing on security cooperation, Iran, Yemen's Houthis, and regional defence systems. "No official meetings. No talks. Nothing whatsoever. Our stance on Israel remains unchanged," a Saudi official told AFP, with the development also contradicting a report by the Ynet news site that additionally claimed Jordan and Morocco were represented at the meeting.
Reactions
Iran's Foreign Ministry warned the United Arab Emirates of highly dangerous consequences following the visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, calling him a war-mongering leader and stating that his presence threatens collective peace and security in the region.
Context
Saudi Arabia has long maintained that it will not normalise diplomatic relations with Israel without a clear path to Palestinian statehood, even though the United Arab Emirates established formal ties through the Abraham Accords in 2020.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Saudi Arabia has officially denied claims by Israeli media that its representatives attended a regional security meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Why It Matters
Normalisation between Saudi Arabia and Israel is considered a major geopolitical turning point for West Asia. Riyadh continues to insist that any future diplomatic ties remain tied to the creation of a Palestinian state, making any perceived backchannel talks a matter of intense regional and international speculation, especially amid strong opposition from Iran.
What Happens Next
Observers will watch to see if regional diplomatic stances shift further as tensions involving Iran and US involvement continue to unfold across the Middle East.
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