Opposition leader Yair Lapid discussed regional developments with United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a visit to his palace in Abu Dhabi, the Yesh Atid leader said in a Friday X/Twitter post.
The meeting was also attended by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“We discussed regional developments and the paramount importance of bringing back all the hostages,” Lapid wrote in his post.
Lapid reiterated a promise that his party would lend Yesh Atid’s 23 votes to any initiative aimed at bringing the hostages home. This followed a report that far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was attempting to block a hostage deal.
In Israel's defense throughout Iran war
During Operation Rising Lion against Iran last month, Lapid sat for numerous interviews in English and Spanish-speaking international news programs to defend Israel’s actions.
On numerous occasions throughout the war, the opposition leader met with foreign diplomats, including those from Arab-speaking countries, in order to promote Israeli interests and develop a plan for the Gaza Strip once the war was over.
The visit to Abu Dhabi, which took place over a 24-hour period, was jointly coordinated. He did not meet with any other regional actors.
KAN reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s associates told Emirati officials that inviting Lapid to Abu Dhabi was inappropriate interference in Israel’s internal affairs, because the prime minister himself has yet to meet the UAE president or be invited to visit the country since signing the Abraham Accords in 2020.
Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.