Netanyahu allies fume over UAE's invitation to Lapid: Israeli media
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UAE's meeting with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, amid Netanyahu's exclusion and growing regional tensions following "Israel's" strike on Iran, signals Gulf states' shifting stance away from Tel Aviv's aggressive policies.
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Far-right Israeli lawmakers Itamar Ben Gvir, center, and Bezalel Smotrich, right, attend the swearing-in ceremony for "Israel's" parliament, at the Knesset, in occupied al-Quds, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/ Maya Alleruzzo, Pool)
A report by the Israeli Kan 11 network reveals that associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed frustration to Emirati officials over the recent meeting between UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid in Abu Dhabi.
According to the report, Netanyahu's confidants viewed the gesture as an inappropriate political maneuver. "It is unacceptable for an opposition leader to be invited to a meeting before the prime minister," they reportedly told Emirati counterparts. They further described the invitation as "political interference."
The Israeli officials reportedly expected a different diplomatic sequence, particularly in light of the Israeli regime's posture toward Iran. "It seems that the fear of Iran outweighs reason," they remarked, criticizing the UAE's apparent shift in approach.
Kan 11 also highlighted that despite his leadership role, Netanyahu has yet to meet the UAE president or conduct an official visit to the Gulf state, unlike several of his political opponents. Notably, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, another of Netanyahu's rivals, held talks with the Emirati leader just months ago.
While Lapid's visit went ahead, Kan 11 pointed out that no images of the meeting were made public, possibly a sign of "political sensitivities" surrounding the encounter.
This diplomatic strain comes in the wake of the Israeli June 2025 military attack on Iranian territory, an operation that backfired dramatically. Iran responded with direct strikes on Israeli military infrastructure, but the broader fallout unsettled Gulf leaders, who feared being dragged into a wider regional conflict.
Read more: Iran retaliates, targets US air base in Qatar with missiles
A report by The Telegraph on June 26 noted that the strike triggered alarm across the Gulf, prompting several Arab states to reconsider the costs of their alignment with Tel Aviv. Once viewed as a strategic bulwark against Iran, "Israel" is now increasingly seen as a reckless and destabilizing force.
As one Gulf official candidly told The Telegraph, "Unchecked, uncontrollable power is no longer an asset for us. It is a problem." The comment reflects a growing concern that Tel Aviv’s militarism, once tolerated for geopolitical utility, now poses a threat to the very stability that Gulf states seek to preserve.
